Summer Solstice

 Summer Solstice this year is today, 21 June 2022.

while we didn't visit Stonehenge until August and closer to the Equinox, I suspect it was crazy busy there today.

In the meantime, here are some shots of the rocks.

take care....

Screen Saver

 One of the nice things about my PC operating system, in my case Windows 10, is the screen saver.   I have it cycle through folders in my pictures and get to "recollect" some of my travels.  Here are some different shots.

and some more.

So why not use your own photos for the scrolling backgrounds?

Air Passenger Travel Between the U.S. and Europe up 783%

 Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in May 2022:

U.S.-International air traffic passenger enplanements (APIS/ “I-92” arrivals + departures) totaled 16.764 million in May 2022, up 129% compared to May 2021, however, enplanements reached 76% of pre-pandemic May 2019 volume.

Whew.

Oh yeah, after my AT hike I started a job at Camp Straus as a canoe guide.

Finished hike of Appalachian Trail (12 June 1975)

 On the 12th of June in 1975, I finished hiking the Appalachian Trail..  Basically both ends to the middle, hiked 1,600 miles in 1974 (June to October) then finished up the middle sections on a few trips in the spring of 1975.

The final piece started at Tyringham, MA and concluded (in the rain of course) at US Route 20 near Lee, MA.

No one would pick up a wet hitchhiker, so I walked into Lee to buy a bus ticket home.

Funny thing is that in 1989, I moved to New England and our first house was on US Route 20 in Westfield, some 30 miles east.

Heading north to Tyringham, MA on the AT

From Jug End to Tyringham on 11 June 1975, there was a lot of road walking.  Here are some shots from 2021 of the roads and even a few white blazes that remain on the old AT. 

Sometime during the day, I passed the Sheffield Lime Kiln, but like this more recent picture, I am sure the June foliage blocked my view.  An early description of the trail and kiln is found in The Guide to the Appalachian Trail in New England that was published by the Appalachian Trail Conference (1939) shortly after completion.  The trail followed an unnamed dirt road by the “old deserted limekiln which is worth examining.".  Early hikers had the opportunity to observe the site shortly after operations ceased.

See this video about the kiln.  Finally, here is a newer map of the kiln area, showing the new AT off the road.

See Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 1939. Guide to the Appalachian Trail in New England. Publication no. 13. Washington, DC: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

oh yeah, here is a shot of the old trail weaving into Tyringham along some old wood roads (shot taken in 2020).

Jug End, Massachusetts

 Arrived in Massachusetts on the 10 of June 1975.  Camped at Jug End Spring (super powerful).  Here are some 2021 pictures of the area.  It is now off the trail since the relocation takes it off the roads.

Oh yeah, no rain on this date, or yesterday!!  About 23-24 miles to Tyringham tomorrow.

9 June 1975 in Connecticut

 Hiked from Pine Knoll LT (930 am) to Limestone Spring LT (530 pm) that was just south of Salisbury, CT.  "Had a hard time finding it, but finally did." 

Here is an AT Map for Connecticut from the AMC.

(https://ct-amc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CTATmapbrochureB.pdf)  This is better than the gas station road maps I was using.

At this point, I had hiked about 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and had just two more nights of camping.

8 June 1975 and a 20 miler on the AT

 Tired all day but at night "Happy content peaceful"

Camped at Pine Knoll LT with Tom and Karen (from Connecticut). They told me about Pero, an instant cereal beverage from Germany.

Also met a 86 year old man named Ernie who was hiking from Rockfish Gap to Maine.  "Very Nice."

Hiking along the Housatonic River was very pretty.

Twenty five miles into Connecticut

 Raining of course, but made it to Macedonia Camp Ground, (the LT was no longer there) and camped with some Boy Scouts. I crossed into Connecticut this day of 7 June 1975.

"Only 4 more nites, yea!!"

Trail north of Kent, Connecticut.

Pawling NY and trail angels (6 June 1975)

 

Camped at Murrow Park in Pawling, sharing the pavilion with five families that were having a cookout.

Lots of road walking took me directly to the park, where I could get a hot shower too.  

Remember gas station road maps?  Well I got one to guide me through Connecticut and Massachusetts.  I think I may still have this map in a box somewhere.

In the meantime, here is the USGS map, that I didn't have in 1975.  The park in marked with the blue upside down tear drop.

oh yeah, the trail angels here were the families that shared food and the pavilion at the park.

Wet Boots on the Appalachian Trail (5 June 75)

 Anyone who hikes the AT should expect wet boots, 60% of the time.  On the 5th of June in 1975, I had been trailing several thru hikers and just could not catch up to them.  So I spent many days alone.

"When will the rain stop?"

At this point of my trip I shared my concern about hiking in Connecticut and Massachusetts without maps and a guidebook, but figured I would ask other hikers to see theirs.

oh yeah, Farmers Mill LT leaked.

Here is a recent map of Fahnestock State Park.

Lots of trail relos were in the future for this area of the AT in New York.  Google AT in NY in the 1980s to read more about the relocations.  Lots of interesting stuff.  Kudos to the ATC for making it happen.

Lowest point on AT (4 June 1975)

 Lowest as in elevation.  A 21 mile day, I crossed the Hudson River and paid 10 cents I seem to recall. 

 

I phoned home to tell my parents on my plans to continue on the Massachusetts; I figured it would another eight days.  Camped at Indian Lake LT.

Saw NYC from Bear Mountain on this 4th of June 1975.

Here is a Bear Mountain Park map from NY-NJ Trail Conference.

A big shout out to the many trail volunteers!

and remember today is National Trails Day.