I walked the 3 miles to the village of Cornwall where I planned to stop by the Cornwall Market store and deli to get a bite to eat, charge electronics, and kill some time before heading toward Kent, just 12 miles further. I have a box coming to Kent but would not be able to pick it up until tomorrow, Tuesday, because of the Labor Day holiday.
The store opened at 8am and I was there waiting, already charging my stuff at the friendly hiker table with power strip on the front porch. I picked up a 12” Italian sub, an 8 ounce bag of salt and vinegar chips, and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Not your traditional breakfast foods but I had a feeling this was going to be the best breakfast ever. I ate half of the sub, some of the chips, and all of the ice cream. I have noticed that, while hiking, it is nearly impossible to gain weight. You can’t really carry or consume enough calories on most days. You can make up some of the deficit during town stops—then back on the trail you go.
When I was buying the food the cashier offered that the store has WiFi and gave me the password. So I sat at the porch seating, ate my “breakfast,” and watched the rest of the world come and go from the store. After a couple hours I finished the rest of the sandwich so I was charged up, both batteries and stomach, and ready to go. I just had to head maybe 8-9 miles further and find a place to camp, preferably at higher altitude. The weather today was going to be near 90 degrees and warm throughout the night. Higher up would be a bit cooler and, hopefully, breezy. The highest peak between here and Kent was not very tall, but every bit would help.
I went back in the store for a drink and another smaller sandwich to bring for later today. As I was coming out a man asked if I would like a ride back to the trail. I said I would love a ride and hurriedly packed up to go with him. He told me his daughter had completed her AT thru hike last year. He and his wife were in two cars and were getting ready to kayak on the Housatonic River next to town. They are from nearby and he gives hikers rides now whenever he can.
Once back on the trail I took my time hiking in the heat. There was a long, 5-mile walk along the Housatonic River. At an access point I took the opportunity to take a dip on the water to cool off.
At the end of the river walk there was a very steep and rocky climb up to Caleb’s Peak at just over 1000 feet high.
I continued from there a couple more miles and made it almost to Kent before stopping around 4pm. It was early but there was no point in heading downhill to town. The post office wouldn’t be open until 8am.