Date: 2014-07-12
From: winterri shelter

To: hanover, nh
Miles today: 26.3

I got out early today with hopes of getting in a long day ending just before hanover and resupplying the next morning as i went thru town. I was a little concerned about the hills in the beginning of the day, they looked like dragons teeth on the guide. The first one was three miles in, dana hill didnt disappoint. She was steep and got my heart pumping but i made it. At the bottom on the other side i got to a road with a stream, i needed a drink so i took off my pack and started to filter some water. As i was squeezing the water thru my filter i looked over and noticed a bucket of soda cans, oh boy, trail magic. I finished filtering and checked the situation, it was dead trail magic, all empty. That does happen sometimes but its a soul crusher when it does happen. Oh well, i had more hills to climb. I checked my phone and had gotten a text from my sis. She wanted to know where i was and if i wanted a visit. Of course id like a visit so i told her my plan and agreed to meet me for breakfast in hanover in the morning. Perfect. The next couple where shorter but just as steep. The last was about 600' and the steepest of all of them but that would be the worst of the hills for a while. At the top was a plateau that offered a fiew views but most of it was out in the sun and it was beating down on me. It made me not even want to stop and pick the ripe raspberries! I did get a few of the big fat ones, they were delish. Then about nine miles in i came to cloudland rd where 0.2 miles off the trail was cloudland market. That meant lots of cold drinks i did not have to filter. My plan was to swing over and get lunch there. That was until i hit some great trail magic that was not dead. There was a cooler out with bags of chips, sandwiches, a smore kits (2graham crackers, 2marshmellows, and a chocolate bar). They also had jugs of water if you needed some. This was great! I took a smore kit, chips and some water. One the smores they wrote ' only a few smore miles!!' I laughed right out loud. This made it so i didnt have to go to the market off trail, even better. I carried on about my way, mostly downhill into west hartford. There was a store there too that was right on the trail, i was planning on grabbing something there too. As i got close to town there was a short road walk to get over a river. As im going over the river i hear a bell ringing, what the hell is that? I walked over the bridge not knowing the bell is a signal to hikers to stop over and get a soda. Linda Hart is a trail angel that hangs out on her porch and watches for hikers coming down the hill. When she sees one she rings the bell for us to come get a drink. She even cooks breakfast for hikers in the morning and lets them stay in her garage if they need a place. How nice is that? I was more than happy with a soda. She partly does the magic cuz the store is now closed so people are out of luck if they were planning on going there. Sweet lady. Then a bit more down the road to go under I-89 where i met a couple out on their bikes. They were just getting done and loading back up intp the truc, they asked if i was a thru hiker so we chatted for a bit. They thought my adventure sounded pretty neat, as it is. They asked the best part, i said that it is easily the trail magic. The thought that people care and go out of their way for people they dont know and may never know is just amazing to me. They did not know about the trail magic. After i said so-long and went into the woods there was three gallons of water sitting there, more magic! The stuff was everywhere today. From there it was a good long, hot climb out of town. Part was thru a pine forest that can be the worst if its hot. The pine needles seem to trap the heat and moisture from the ground and it feels like youre roasting, not the best. Once i got to the top of that i got to the happy hill shelter, 20 miles in. I could make it all the way to hanover tonight if i wanted to. I text my sister and asked if she wanted to come up tonight aa she is not really a morning person. She thought that sounded good and was gonna head up as soon as she could. She called and booked us a room at the sunset motor inn, here i come hanover! From the shelter it was around six miles so with plenty of sun i cooked along heading for town food. It was generally flat so i made good time till i got to norwich, vt. Then it was a road walk thru a perfect new england town. All the houses kept up perfect, gorgeous. I could look at this type of house for ever so i slowed down to take in all the details. I also took a side trip to the grocery for chocolate milk and plums, i was fresh out of plums. Back on the 'trail' (sidewalk) i walked out of town and crossed the bridge over the connecticut river. This river is the border between vt and nh! I was in my 13th state! Thats big. I cant really wrap my head around being here already, or at all for that matter. When you start, this is all so far away but now im here, its crazy. On into hanover i walked. Its fancy here as its the home of dartmouth college. A tiny bit of culture shock for somebody that eats dry ramen for lunch and eats uncooked oatmeal for breakfast. Fancy college town with fancy people everywhere. I sat on a bench to look over my map to find the motor inn. I heard someone yell 'LUNCH!!' Who knows me? Oh a couple of my friends from the trail just came into town and saw me sitting, it was cowboy and cornwall. We talked for a bit about the place then went our ways, them to bbq, me to the motor inn. The inn was two miles off trail but offered a shuttle so i called, no answer. I stopped in to tthe gas station for a few drinks and snacks for the night. I called again, no answer. Not good. I ended up walking the two miles to the sunset. I was really bumming. After a 26+ mile day i didnt want to road walk. Anyway i sucked it up and got there to have a bit of a hassle checking in even though my sis told them i would be there first and gave them my name. I finally got the room and showered and ate before Vik showed up. She got there about ten and we talked past midnight. That was the first time i had been up past real midnight since starting! Made no matter, it was good to see my sis and to be showered and on a bed. Things couldnt get better, nope, ciuldnt get better.