Gates to Heaven

I'm in Kent, CT updating from the library. Only 30 minutes per PC session, so I will be brief. Two days ago on April 22nd I was walking along in the middle of nowhere, when I turned a corner and I was looking at the Gates to Heaven, a cemetary with a brick arch at the entrance and the name inscribed in metal on top. It was about the size of a football field with five tombstones, all of them separated by great distance. Beautiful, haunting, and sad.

I hustled from Pawling to the Wiley shelter for the night, about 9 miles. Made it barely ahead of the rain. It rained all night and continued until 11:00 AM the next morning (yesterday). I left the shelter at noon and and the rain Gods resumed their drizzle as if they had been waiting on me to venture out. It was OK though, my rain gear works great and my body and my backpack were dry when I arrived at the Ten Mile Shelter in Connecticut. Shared the shelter with two locals out for the weekend. I'm in Connecticut! Bye, bye New York and New Jersey, a mere 160 miles in total, but two states are behind me. A Win is a Win, as they say. I'll take it. Only twelve states and 2,000 miles to go.

I hiked along the Housatonic River this morning on my way into Kent. Thought I was in New Mexico or Colorado; serious rapids and a beautiful river.

Kent is as nice as Pawling, but not as natural; more of a Muffy and Buffy atmosphere (New Yorkers double the population on the weekends, I'm told). I detoured here, because there is an outfitter in town, the first I've encountered on the hike, and I needed to repair a couple of things. I hit the Post Office and the grocery store and now the library.

It's a beautiful day (Saturday) and the forecast calls for a couple of days of clear weather before the rain returns.

I'm outta here when I leave the library.

Comments

[Annice]

The Gates To Heaven sounds intriguing. I wonder if there is any way to research the history. There must be local lore. I'd love to know more. I imagine it as one of those scenes that takes your breath away and makes you wish you could paint or draw.