Dates ........ SUN SEPT 19, 1999
Miles ........ 10.2 miles
From ........ CT SILVER HILL CAMPSITE
To ............. Lawn behind Town Hall - KENT CT
Weather ... 37 degree A.M., heavy dew. Sunny, 70's beautiful day.

SUN SEPT 19, 1999

HAWK IN THE WOODS - KENT CT MAIL PICKUP

It was cold last night and this morning and I had no morning coffee - we drank it all in the shelter while waiting for Floyd to pass. Looking forward to my pit stop at Kent, CT. It is a moderate to steep descent from Silver Hill through the woods. As I carefully make my way down the hill, squirrels gather acorns for their winter larder. Suddenly, silently, a red tail hawk swoops in after one of the squirrels, just missing him. He lands on a branch near me and pays no attention as my cold clumsy hands fumble to get the camera out. He is intently focused on breakfast - the squirrels. As they move, he moves and I get another photo before he flies off to other hunting grounds, still hungry.

The trail runs right alongside the swollen Housatonic, roiling and beautiful with the mornings mists still rising. Another red tail hawk glides by with 5 crows in pursuit. I meet a few joggers along the riverbank trail. The trail turns into a field and I spook a small herd of deer. A side venture gives me a nice shot of a rushing feeder stream as it cascades over and through its rock channel. The trail breaks away from the riverbank, climbs St. Johns Ledges and offers many vistas of the Housatonic Valley below before crossing CT Route 341 which I take into KENT CT.

KENT is a rich little preppy tourist town, catering to the wealthy big city folk and attracting lots of bikers. Three or four PREP SCHOOLS in the area bus their kids into town for the day, making a festive atmosphere which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are no reasonably priced motels, hotels or hostels in Kent - just 100$ a night fancy B&Bs. I needed a cheap place to stay, a shower and laundromat. The town is not geared towards accommodating the needs of hikers - I think it would just as soon see them pass by. THANKS to Backcountry Outfitters, I got a hot shower for $2 behind his store, directed to the laundromat across the street, and told I could clandestinely and very discreetly sleep under the willows behind town hall as long as I did so after dark and left early. There was no shortage of eateries in Kent and they had a very tasty bakery. I bought a new pair of trail sneakers, called home, treated myself to a hot pizza and beer dinner and turned in under the willows.