Upper Goose Pond to the Cookie Lady

Upper Goose Pond is a great place to start the day. I did miss the pancake breakfast, but the donuts were fabulous. We started the day just enjoying the stillness of the lake from out on the dock.

Murphy and I decided to swim out to the island in the middle of the lake. It felt great and then we laid (or is it layed?!) on the dock in the sun. It was amazing. Every day should start that way....but then I suppose we wouldn't appreciate it as much.

We ate our picnic feast (and more because we didn't want to have to pack out the leftovers!!) We got on the trail about noon. The profile of the terrain today was relatively flat, but lots of roots and bogs. Massachussetts is kind on soggy! Can't complain though because the profile is about to change drastically.. Elevation is going to rear it's ugly head again once we get in to Vermont and  New Hampshire. And that is coming up soon....

It started to rain late in the afternoon so we picked up the pace to get tents up before the downpour. Tonight we are just outside of Dalton, MA, camping in the yard of 'the cookie lady'. For 30 years, she and her husband, Roy, have welcomed hikers to their place, and she bakes cookies and offers sodas, ice cream and boiled eggs(straight from their chickens)

We got in, set up, ate a quick dinner and the skies got dark and the rain began.

This photo is of Roy. This chicken followed him everywhere he went. 

Tomorrow... town, showers, laundry and possibly... a  movie!!