Date: 2005-08-21
From: Mancheter Center VT

To: Killington, VT
Miles today: 0.0

Hello all! Wheeeeeewwwwwww, what a week I had getting through and out of Mass and then through the first half of the Green Mtns of Vermont. I took my last Antibiotic on top of Mnt Greylock last Tuesday and began feeling the mental effects shortly after. I mean, it has been a tough week for me mentally, but physically I was quite fine. I think it may have had to do with me doing (6) 20 mile days in a row and my body chems being off balance. Some of the high points(cause nobody wants to hear the lows), Mompi sent me a package to Dalton, Mass which included Wine and Cheese, a t-shirt and other goodies. I hiked it out to the WILBUR Shelter over Greylock(in the rain...oops, that's a low) and shared it with some SOBO's. Ever eat an entire can of cheese wiz in 15 minutes? Neither have I, just ask'n. Another highlite was meeting back up with my good friend Not Guilty here in VT. I decided to join him for some food and fun. Thanks to the "trail magic" that came from the mysterious table in the Garlic Johns Rest. Hmmmm....must have been Crickets Mom and Dad, from what we could gather. Also, we cantinued our luck of meeting and hanging out with "town folk"...thanks to Tom and his family for the ride back to our Hotel. Oh, MC has GREAT Mexican Rest. and the BEST Bookstore on the trail (according to Wingnutt and ME...cause I am sitting in it right now.)Other magic came before Stratton Mtn...a cooler with Beer and Soda and a Ramon...for without it, I would have been one meal shy of enough food to get here. All that was left in my pack was a piece of beef jerky as small as your thumb. Nothin!The best magic came in the form of a Brownie...No THE Brownie. We were heading to town(here) and a vehicle pulled up to our hotel room door...guess who was there? And, guess who I was coming to the computer to try and find? AMAZING! I mean, I am in the middle of nowhere (which is somewhere) VT, and the person I need to get in contact with most....PULLS UP! These typed words will never explain the chances of this. I got to talk to Soulman on the phone too. I hope that Deb and I can see them later this year for some hiking and such. She took Not Guilty and I around to do errands and then was on her way but not before we made some tentative plans. Remember, I started the trail with Brownie and Soulman...and Deb and I had a Double Date with them in Virginia in June. Ah, the trail...the hiking just gets in the way of the fun. Ha Ha.So, my Dad is coming this week and we will hike and have fun. Trying to get the FUN back into the everyday of the hike...it had been missing this past week. I am just the man for the job. Will be in the Whites next weekend and back with Stilts and possibly others to trek them and then on to Maine for the Hundred Mile Wilderness and on to the REAL Big K! Will clean up at the end of Sept, early early Oct and On On to the Chili World Championship Oct 9th.And, the adventure continues. Hey, when are they casting for that AT movie or some other fun stuff? Been out here a lot longer than those Survivor folks...no millions at then end though.Oh, Dream Job (I have been asked): ONE, that I can come up with, is to work for ...yes, you guessed it, Jimmy Buffett, doing Special Events and Adventure programming for the man and his many projects. Also would like to get invovled if they ever get the movie about Joe Merchant going. Another would be to get with the PERFECT community and do events and recreation. I'll write more of these later, if you are interested....I HAVE time to think of these things you know.Look back at the entry with my Mom's nursing home address and info and drop her a card or note. She said she got the one from Beth and the one from David, Thank you both very much. Hope to meet you someday. Those things are true blessings to her. She says she has been "writing Oprah" and such. Not necessary but it gives her a sense of involvment in the hike. Plus, that's just what Mom's do. I Feel so loved when she still does "Mom" things despite her disability. Dont forget to visit www.bafound.org and www.brainaneurysm.com and find out the latest facts and knowledge about this silent but deadly entity. HELLO TULSA! Welcome back to school.No Blow and Momma had their child...I got some spoiling to do later. So the world goes on.I am glad the Lyme scare is behind me (hopefully). I have to be tested again once I am done.ON ON!