Day 102: A Hike Through Connecticut
As I stepped into Connecticut, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and relief. After back-to-back grueling days of hiking in New York, I was finally getting a chance to catch my breath. Sleeping in until 7 am was a luxury, and I made the most of it, starting my hike later than usual. But even with my slow start, I managed to cover only 0.5 miles by 9 am, which was a far cry from my usual pace.
The first mile of the hike was relatively easy, but it soon turned into a challenging climb over the next couple of miles. My new shoes, while comfortable out of the box, were still causing some discomfort due to the break-in period. I was taking a relaxed pace, and it was a welcome change after the demanding days in New York. As I crossed the Connecticut border, I couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, having entered my 10th state on trail.
About 4 miles into the hike, I reached a river that the trail followed along. I spotted Shooter soaking his feet in the cold water, and I couldn't resist joining him. We took a 15-minute break to soak our tired feet, and it was a much-needed respite. We hiked along the river for a blissful and calm next mile, enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
After the river, we took a short blue blaze to check out a covered bridge just off trail. It was a cool diversion, and I was glad I took the time to explore it. As we got back on trail, we were greeted with a relatively steep climb of 700 ft in less than a mile. It was a challenge, and for some reason, I and Shooter were both feeling very sluggish. I lost my balance and fell over into some brush, which hurt nothing but my pride.
After reaching the top, I took a moment to enjoy the view of the surrounding countryside while chatting with a couple of day hikers. The next couple of miles were pretty flat, with just minor ups and downs. The last few miles into Kent featured two steep ups and downs, which I trudged through slowly and methodically. I even saw a snake at one point, which was a surprising sight.
Once in Kent, we made our way to a convenience store for some cold drinks to help hydrate us back up before heading over to the outfitter. We arrived at the outfitter unfortunately right after they closed, but not a big deal as we didn't really need anything specific. Just wanted to check it out and maybe leave our bags there. On we continued to our next stop, food. We decided to go to Cozzy's on Main since it was right there and served burgers and pizza, what we were most interested in currently. Cozzy's was pretty good! We were able to bring our bags inside, charge electronics, and the food was really good. I got a 14" Bacon, Cheddar, & Ranch Pizza and some garlic knots for the 3 of us to share and it all got demolished!
After dinner, we headed over to the grocery store to resupply with a couple of days worth of food and then headed back to the trail. We wanted to get to the Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter before dark and we just made it in time. Although once again, we were setting up in the dark. The hike went well enough, especially since some of it went right along the Housatonic River, a lovely backdrop to an evening hike.
In conclusion, Day 102 was a mix of challenging climbs, peaceful river hikes, and delicious food. It was a day of adjustment and relaxation, and I was grateful for the chance to catch my breath. As I continued my journey through Connecticut, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the adventures that lay ahead.
