26 May.

26 May.
From: Stewart Hollow Brook shelter
To: West Cornwall Rd
Mileage: 10.9
Weather: Sunny, warm, humid

Was the only occupant at the shelter last night except for a bird nested in the support beam that tolerated my presence. Got a bit chilly late so I pulled in my jacket and quilt and slept fairly well after that.
Tried to beat the heat by getting started early as several smaller climbs/descents today.
Started with a nice walk along the Housatonic River, but the trail turned into fallow fields with tall grass, so I applied some DEET to discourage ticks. After returning to the river briefly, the trail began its first climb of the day.
Not much of note. Woods, streams, and the occasional rocky spot.
I finally reached the road to Cornwall Bridge CT one mile walk downhill and made my way into town and the Cornwall Country Market, which was very busy serving locals. There I found one of the three hikers from yesterday eating breakfast, who said that they decided to end their hike early. The others had gotten a ride to pick up their car. I bought a breakfast sandwich and had my AT Passport stamped.
After breakfast, I went across the street to the Cornwall Package Store (beer and wine), signed its hiker register, and also got its stamp in my passport. I chatted with the owner, who offered me a free beer/soft drink, so I accepted a Sprite to take with me. He also let me use the outside water spigot to refill my water and rinse off. I really appreciate these gestures by local businesses!
I hiked back up the road to the trail, noting to myself how easy it was moving uphill on the graded surface compared to hiking the trail.
I chatted with a hiker who was waiting at the trailhead to meet his brother before hiking on. I later learned his trail name is Production, a name I recall from shelter logs.
More stream crossings and ridge climbs/descents.
When I was 2.5 miles from West Cornwall Rd at noon, I found I had a good phone signal so I texted Hudson at the Bearded Woods hostel (www.beardedwoods.com/index.html) that I expected to be ready for pickup after 1pm.
More climbs and descents.
I arrived later than expected, at 1:30pm, and Hudson pulled up only a couple of minutes later - perfect timing! I tossed my pack and poles in the back of his pickup and we were off to the hostel.
Waiting on the porch I found Pootz, a veteran hiker who is a hostel regular and shared a lot of info about hostels all along the AT and about his hikes on other trails around the US.
I took a shower and got into loaner shirt and pants while my clothes were truly washed for the first time since Rock'n'Sole hostel in PA.
Hostel hosts Hudson and his wife Big Lu shared their Memorial Day cookout dinner with us - steak and BBQ chicken, grilled corn on the cob, cole slaw, potato salad, and cornbread muffins. It was great!
Hudson left to provide shuttle service, while Big Lu and Pootz shared hiker and hostel stories with me.
I am really impressed with the clean, well-organized accommodations here, and the hospitality of Hudson and Big Lu. Highly recommend this hostel!