7/01/06 Saturday: Upper Goose Pond Cabin to Tom's Place, Dalton, Mass. (20.6mi)

PICTURES:
1. Typical morning for this caretaker of Upper Goose Pond Cabin... On her way by canoe to the spring on the other side of the pond to get water for her guests.
2. 0854: Crossing the Mass Pike (I-90)
3. 0857: Entering the Berkshires
4. 1912: Greeted with Tom's famous sunday
5. 1937: Thru-hikers relax on Tom's porch

I was one of the last ones out at 0815, with the 3 late arrivals choosing to stay for another relaxing day at the cabin. I was having a bit of trouble with my water treatment device... After fiddling with it for about 20 min I was able to treat both 32oz water containers and I was off... At about 1000 I caught up to Crumbs, Today, Low Key, and Soft Lipped Swamp Donkey (I still need to ask him how he got that trail name)... I had met the other 3 girls on the street in Great Barrington two days earlier and again last night at the cabin... All four were seated having lunch in a sunny spot on the trail... I was feeling a bit calorie deprived so I decided to have an early lunch... I cooked one of my entrees and felt a bit better... I guess 6 small pancakes wasnt quite enough...LOL... Anyway a bit further down the trail was some Trail Majic... I met the 4 hikers again with soda and juices and we again took a break and walked the .1mi to the home of the "Cookie Ladie/Man"...LOL... Unfortunately they werent at home but they had gived all hikers permission to relax on a picnic table on the front of their yard and replenish their water from the spicket.. Well, I replenished my water and found a rather high sulpha content in the water which, yes, makes the water smell and taste like rotten eggs.... :(... The water in that part of Mass was all discolored and funny tasting but although this was clear it simply wasnt palitable... I dumped one out and kept the other until I could find better... I was expecting to get spring water from a jug back at the trail majic but after relaxing for an hour, playing cards and just putting our feet up, the trail majic was gone...:(... Well I was stuck with this water only for a couple of miles and a couple of drinks... Soon we all arrived in Dalton at about 1900, and on to Tom's house where he greeted each hiker with a bowl of Ben&Jerrys Ice cream and a soda... Tom offers all hikers the opportunity to camp in his backyard for free, allowing us to make use of the towns facilities; restaurants and grocery stores, etc... I met Sparrowhawk there and was joined by Grizzly again later... We all went to the local sandwitch shop for subs and I had a 12" Meatball and a 12" Italian with fries and a liter of coke...:)... I love to eat... Unfortunately I keep loosing weight...:(... We returned to Toms house to chat again for a bit before all retiring to our tents for a peaceful nights sleep on a cushion of grass...