This is the best 4th of July party ever

I hiked 12.1 miles today and hardly remember the details. But I will never forget the graciousness of trail angel Lisa for opening up her yard and feeding us. This is the best 4th of July party ever.  

    
    
   
We are in the town of Falls Village, CT and just up the road a piece, 0.3 miles at the race track will be a fireworks show. But I won’t be going. Hubby Bear is all the sparkle and flash I need to celebrate this awesome day. 

We were planning on camping at a near buy business and when we got there the tenting area was not as it was described in the guide book. It was quite horrible to be honest. This area is very rural and there are not many options. We tried all our possibilities and we decided we just needed to find a place we could park and sleep in the truck. 

We had committed to Wye Knot to pick him up and take him where he wanted to go and he wasn’t sure what he was doing either. I was done hiking before Wye Knot so he contacted us when he was ready for shuttling. He had a couple other hikers who also needed a ride. At extraction the two extra hikers knew of a trail magic bbq and camping on the same premises. How wonderful. I have always said, the trail will provide. 

I do remember a stream I had to cross today without a bridge. Just stepping stones. Welcome to New England.  

 We know how to make things exciting. 

I just spoke with another hiker who walked by my tent to his. I recently recognized the flip flop of his walk. Last night at the other “tent city” about 11:00pm I was awakened to the sound of flip flopping all around our tents. It was strange and I thought someone was searching for what they could claim as their own while we all slept. My tent vestibule was open and I could peer out. There was a lone hiker just standing their looking lost. Seeing he was one of us I just went back to sleep and forgot about it until just now when I heard that distinctive flip flopping. I asked if he was with us last night at the other town and explained my above story. He proudly explained he was the guilty one up that late. He had gone partying and was having difficulty navigating to his tent. What a funny story. 

Happy 4 of July and as always,

Happy Hiking. 

Emily M. Leonard

About Emily M. Leonard

I am a 50 year old Maine native and lover of the outdoors. Former Physical Education teacher and soccer coach. I am Married to the best husband ever and gave up teaching and coaching to raise our two wonderful sons. I have always enjoyed being outside and on the go.