July 30 – Great Barrington, MA (Day 133 – milepoint 1495.3)
Small World woke us all up around 5:30 a.m. and we returned to the rock overlook to watch the sunrise. Patches of clouds blanketed the lakes, ponds, streams, and swampland in the valley below and slowly lifted like ghosts into heaven as the warm sun rose over the horizon.
I fell back asleep right there on the rock, and when I awoke, I was alone. As I stumbled back to my pack and gear, I figured I would be walking alone today, until I found Achilles, Jarvis, and Small World just waking up as well.
Yet another beautiful day all around. We’re finally being rewarded for our efforts each day with nice views and increasing topography. My energy and spirit had been somewhat drained through the mentally tough Northern Virginia to New York portion of the Trail. Rocks, heat and humidity day after day will do it to you, but I must say it was well worth the effort and I did enjoy myself. The initial stages of New England already have me rejuvenated, and the buzz seems to have spread throughout the thru-hiking community.
Achilles and I hiked the rest of the day with Jarvis (20, IN) and Small World (22, IL), definitely a couple of my favorite people on the Trail.
We had all planned a group celebration for reaching 1,500 miles and we headed into Great Barrington, MA to meet the rest of the celebration crew. Achilles and I got a ride into town from a very generous couple who had been out all day doing Trail maintenance on the AT nearby. They dropped us off at the Barrington Motel, which is conveniently located next to the Barrington Brewery. We got cleaned up then walked over to the Brewery and joined Huff and Puff (father and son from Oklahoma), Apple Jack (61, Ireland), ChurchMouse (30’s, Key Largo, FL), Woolybooger (mid 20’s, NC), Spice (mid 20’s, Boston), Cosmo (23, GA), Chewy (25, IN), Watergirl (mid 20’s, San Diego), Chicken Man (20’s, GA), and LandShark (mid 20’s, NH).
Good beer and food, excellent company, billiards, darts, and a great jukebox all made for a fulfilling 1500-mile celebration. It is now 2:30 a.m. and I can’t believe I’m still awake. Should probably find out when checkout time is.
We’re now planning a party for Hanover, NH where Achilles went to school…
Aquaholic
