July 22, 2007

To All of You following the Walking for Alley Hike,

With completion of Connecticut, I now have only 4 of the 14 Appalachian Trail states left to hike. I presently have only 27 more miles left in Massachusetts, so I will be down to 3 states sometime Monday, 23 July. I am hoping to complete these by mid-September. I am now hiking with Wing-Heart, the former Army Ranger who patched me up during my recent spill at Lehigh Gap near Palmerton PA, and Boo Boo, a mother of 2 college students. We three had agreed to team up for the difficult part of the Appalachian Trail through the NH White Mountains and the 100 mile wilderness in Maine. However, Boo Boo's husband was hospitalized in Cleveland, OH with heart problems, so it is not known if she will be able to stay with us as her husband goes through medical diagnosis and treatment. We will know whether she needs to leave our group on Tuesday. Both Wing-Heart and Boo Boo are very strong hikers and climbers and it is less tedious to see the miles melt away as I hike with them.

We were able to quickly hike through some of the most beautiful scenery in Connecticut with the help of two previous thru-hikers, Momma Lipton (Sue Spring) and Flatlander (Tom Evans) of Lakeville, CT. They fed us, allowed us to wash clothes, provided beds, dropped us off and picked us up at the trail each hike day (4 days) allowing us to hike the beautifully pristine Housitonic River valley and ledges. In effect, they spoiled us. That quickly changed as ML and Flatlander dropped us off at Stoney Brook Rd., 20 miles in Massachusetts on 19 July.

Before continuing our trek in Massachusetts, my sister Judi and the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome staff met us at Momma Lipton's home on Monday, 16 July, in Lakeville, CT for a welcoming reception and belated birthday party. It was a wonderful reception/birthday party. We were interviewed by three local and county newspapers - even made the front page with pictures of the weekly Litchfield newspaper (Art Moore will have these stories on the www.hikerjim.com web site).

We had a nice walk through some boggs across board walks through the marshes (puncheons), but quickly were drenched with rain and continued to walk in the rain for 4 hours to get to a beautiful secluded cabin on Upper Goose Pond where we decided to stay for the night to dry out. We swam in the pond's warm water as bluegills and bass swam around us. We cooked our meal and slept in our sleeping bags in the cabin's bunk loft area.

I am told that my time is up on my computer and I must vacate. Thanks again for your support. With your prayers and support I hope to see you soon.

Regards,

Castanets (Jim Schiwal)

25 July 2007