Miles Hiked: 8.2
Hours Hiked: 6
After filling up on hot coffee and muffins, I started hiking down Greylock. The rain had stopped, but the trail was soggy and some places were like bogs, hiking was slow because the rocks were very slippery. Hiking today was uneventful. The last three miles or so crossed gorgeous meadows and I got a little carried away with picture taking.
St. Mary of the Ascension Church in Cheshire, MA, allows hikers to sleep (for free!) on the floor of their classrooms, outside the fellowship hall. We knocked on the door to the rectory as we had been instructed, but no one answered. A local man walking his dogs told us to just go in the back door, that it would be unlocked. We did, and dropped off our bags. It was great because we had control of the heat and there were bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks! Oh, the luxuries of life. We walked to the pizzeria in town (one of two restaurants in Cheshire) and found out that it is closed on Mondays. So, we kept walking to the Bass Water Grill Restaurant-about two miles away from the church down a somewhat busy highway. By the time we finished eating delicious nachos and loaded baked potatoes (if you're in the area, this restaurant is worth your time!) it was already dark. I did not relish the idea of walking back to the church in the cold and dark and rain. The menu boasted free delivery so we asked the waitress if we would order food to be delivered to the church if we could also ride along. She said she had never been asked that question, and disappeared into the back of the restaurant. She returned to say that the owner would be happy to drop us off at the church whenever we were ready, and we did not need to order more food or pay for the ride! So I didn't have to walk back in the dark and rain after all.
When we got back to the church there were two section hikers there also settling in for the night. Once again I was glad to be in a heated place to sleep.
There's nothing like hot lodge coffee to start the day properly!
Trail
Moss on a huge rock. (Why a picture? I don't know. Why not?)
Trekking poles and the Trail
In Maine I think I only saw one shelter that had a second level. Here many shelters have this sleeping loft above a porch-like area with a picnic table.
Views from the Trail. Enjoying the fall colors.
Stained glass window in the St. Mary of the Ascension Church where I spent the night.
Notice our wind-burned faces? Isn't it ridiculous to have a tv at every booth? Mmm...yummy desert.
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