Dalton, MA - 1556.6 miles

Rob doing laundry @ Bird Cage

We hiked 16.5 miles into Dalton, MA - to resupply, rest and get clean at the "Bird Cage". The sun is shining - the trail is still wet and muddy - but all in all a nice easy hike.

"Bird Cage" is the house of Rob - an older man that takes hikers in for free (donations). He and his son lives at the house - which can sleep 20 hikers on beds, bunks in the basement and attic of garage. Patches and me got a bed each in a room next to the bathroom. The 1st night there were 20 stinky hikers. He welcomes you at the door - makes you take off your boots and leave your poles outside - directs you to the kitchen where all the stinky hikers stand in line for a shower. He does the laundry - folds the clothes very neat. For supper he drives all the hikers to a diner/country buffet. We set a new record of how many hikers you can get in a Ford windstar - 17 - the food at the dinner was very nice.