Nancy's Marshview Cafe, Salisbury MA

Living the trail is different than doing the trail.  I'm not quite sure, but I think it is about being more present in the moment, and not worrying about getting to the next whatever; just meeting things as they come, one at a time.

Odd day today.  Pearly grey like the sky.  Got a slow start this morning, stayed in the motel room to work on the new maps until 7am.  I thought I was closer to Newburyport than I was, so didn't feel like I had to hurry.

Have been feeling a little melancholy as I walk out of New Hampshire into Massachusetts.  I guess yesterday and today have been taking me down memory lane a bit.  Yesterday, all the mansions and private clubs had me reflecting on how I grew up; how private country clubs and yacht clubs, etc were the norm, and how I never gave it a second thought - it was what was normal for me as a child.  Then as I walked through Hampton Beach yesterday and today, I saw how much the town was about making money, (there was even an ATM on one person's front yard!).  This made me think about my very early 20's in Las Vegas.  Back then, it was hard to find a church or movie theater there, it was all casinos, live shows, restaurants and pawn shops, (at least that is my memory of those days).  Then moving through "tacky", fun, touristy Hampton Beach into Salisbury today, I could see how the economic struggle seemed to intensify as I moved south. For some reason these towns reminded me of the changes I saw take place in the Florida Keys from the late 1960's to the last time I visited in the mid 1990's .  I watched the vital, alive fishing/shelling communities change and the original Conchs, (folks who were living and working on the islands), get bought out and then pushed out as the vacationers and investors  moved in and took over.  Meloncholy.

Adelynrood, Byfield, MA

Another remarkable day!  And this time I have The Massachusetts State Police to thank. Long story short: as I entered Byfield I saw a State Police barracks, and since I was getting tired, I thought I would start looking for a place  to stay early since both Byfield and Georgetown ,where I was heading, didn't look like they were going to have much in the way of campgrounds. (Besides, the State Police building would have a bathroom, of which I was in need of right about then  :)  Anyway, after using the necessary room, I told the troopers what I was doing, who I was, etc. etc. and one of them immediately said, " There is a religious retreat place here you should try." 

He didn't know the name of it, or what kind of place it was, but he found their number eventually and I called them.  The retreat folks were most gracious on the phone and said they had plenty of beds and, by the way, did I want ride as they were 3 miles away from where I was? I said, "Yes, thank you, please" and they sent a member to come get me.   During the drive back to the retreat center, Jini, the driver, enlightens me, and I come to find the place I'm being taken to is a Woman's Episcopalian Retreat House, Adelynrood, founded by the Society of the Companions of the Cross.  It is a wonderful place filled with peace.  I am so fortunate.  Here is their website: www.adelynrood.org   They fed me and the food was soooo delicious and the companionship soooo warm, I'm going to stay for a singing of St. Francis' Canticle of the Sun and then have breakfast before leaving tomorrow morning. 

Oh, btw, it started raining steadily while I was with the State troopers and hasn't let up all night.  Am I a lucky girl or what?

Sleep well all.