I was awoken by the sound of rapid footsteps. Peaking out I saw a trail runner receding in the distance. It was 530. It has been getting light early but still impressive.
Crossed some streams through the morning. It's so nice when the trail clubs place stepping stones for us hikers.
Hiked to the next shelter where I met Elsa from Belgium who was having breakfast. She's in the US visiting friends and picked the Massachusetts section of the trail to hike while she was here.
Passed through a Norway Spruce plantation on Washington Mountain planted by the CCC back in 1938. It was intended to provide a useful source of wood for construction. The monoculture and non-native species aren't great for the local environment so the Department of Conservation and Recreation is allowing some harvesting while presumably planting local species.
Passed a beaver dam and then at a road crossing a small sign confirmed my hopes: the fabled Cookie Lady was in business.
Following the sign I found Blueberry Hill.
The Cookie Lady was not home. She had two work away visitors from France who took a break from gardening and brought me cookies and iced tea. We chatted about our various trips while the three golden retrievers sniffed me and my pack. I was the first registered visitor from Oregon this year!
Hiking on I crossed paths with the "Monday Mountain Boys", a group that hikes together every Monday. Later on I overtook section hikers Operator and Silva who had completed all the trail south of us.
About mid-afternoon I was heading downhill in to Dalton at a decent clip when I saw my first bear this trip. We both froze and then it ran off into the woods too quickly for me to get a photo. Bears run amazingly fast even through the underbrush.
In Dalton the ice cream shop and pub were closed until later (too late for me). I got some breakfast and lunch supplies at the gas station and found Zinky's Pub open for business. Recharged my devices while recharging my body with stuffed clams, some sort of rice and black bean stir fry, and the largest dessert I've seen.
I hobbled out of town and up the mountain with a full stomach. Ended up at a nice campground and had it all to myself.
