START TIME: 5:00 AM 
END TIME: 10:10 PM
Jen hiked really strong today. Melissa camped out with Jen last night. When they woke up, Jen put in 14 miles down to VT 9 and got to the road crossing about 10 AM. Melissa packed up the tent and gear and made it out about an hour later. I had enough time in between to run into Bennington and pick up some shoes from home that the best neighbors in the world, Frank and Lauren, mailed to us.
Jen reached County Road (4 miles north of the Vermont-Massachusetts border) in the early afternoon and crossed into Massachusetts around 3 PM. We got to road-walk together through North Adams and then hike another short, flat stretch on the way up Mt. Graylock. Aside from sleeping, time together for us has been rare, so it was great to have an extra 30-40 minutes to catch up.
Jen summited Graylock (the tallest mountain in Massachusetts) a little after 7 PM as the clouds were rolling in and a light rain was starting to fall. Melissa and I drove around to Cheshire and Melissa hiked in from Outlook Avenue. They reached Outlook Avenue just before 9:30 and MA Highway 8 about 15 minutes later. I got to walk the last half-mile into town with Jen. It was her biggest mileage day since Day 1. Something to be very proud of.
I convinced a family near the trail to let Jen use their outdoor shower, so she was able to clean off all the cuts on her leg. (One woman at Clarendon Gorge in Vermont had commented on how bruised and battered Jen’s legs were and gave me a nasty look. I’m pretty sure she thought I was abusing her.) Then we crashed at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church. Thanks to Father David and the parishioners for their kindness and hospitality!
Right now, Jen’s in good shape physically. The shin splints aren’t hurting as much, none of the cuts are infected, and we’re hoping the stomach problems won’t come back.
As a sidebar, some of you know that when Jen set the record in 2008, I referred to myself as her sherpa. About a week ago, I decided to call this year’s group—Melissa, Warren, Horton, Steve Feller, myself, and the others who have been enlisted to offer support along the way—the Pit Crew. You know, because we have to get Jen in and out as quickly as possible at the road crossings (like NASCAR), and because we don’t get to shower very often so our armpits smell awful.