Date: 2006-09-14
From: 3 mi N of Stony Brook Shelter, Vt

To: Mrs Gorp's Home - US 4, VT
Miles today: 12.8

I woke up at 6:30am. It had rained on and off last night and my tent is covered with wet leaves that fell on it. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and 10 chocolate covered espresso beans for breakfast and washed it down with good Vt mountain stream water. I was packed and walking at 7:10am. I left camp wearing my rain gear, but soon realized I didn't need it. Seems the weatherman was wrong about me getting soaked this morning. I got down to Stony Brook and crossed it on a brand new footbridge. I had stopped just before there and filled up from a smaller side stream with water, then after crossing the bridge, started the climb up Quimby Mtn. I stopped at Stony Brook Shelter about half way up the mountain and took a short break. I saw that last year's register was still there, so I looked and found that I had been through here on August 5th, just one month after I climbed Katahdin. That really made me realize what a different walk it's been this year. :-))) I also mentioned that Mrs Gorp was picking me up later that day and I was pretty sure (really hoping) she was rescuing me again this year. I signed this year's register and walked on. I got to the summit of Quimby Mtn, then ran into two ladies that were day hiking just after I started my descent. I kept on heading down the mountain, then crossed River Rd and had an easy 2 1/2 mile walk from there to Gifford Woods State Park. I read in my Companion Guide that there was a phone there. I had been through there a number of times and didn't realize that. The phone ended up being just 200 yards off the Trail. I sent in a journal entry and checked my email and guess what?!?!...there was an email from Mrs Gorp telling me that I better NOT check into The Inn At Long Trail because she was picking me up and taking me home. Well.......if I HAVE too. ;-))) Thanks Mrs Gorp, this is three years in a row now....how am I ever going to repay your kindness. (Ha, I'm sure she'll let me know) :-))) I climbed Deer Leap Mtn, then descended it to Rt 4. I walked to The Inn At Long Trail to call Mrs Gorp and let her know I was there and I saw her car in the parking lot. She was already there waiting on me!! I walked into the bar and saw her sitting there talking to two nobo's. I knew one of them from earlier this year. His name was Chewy, but I didn't catch the other guy's name. I sat down next to Mrs Gorp and ordered a Coke, then we decided to eat lunch there and had a couple pastrami and Swiss cheese on rye sandwiches...very good!! We said goodbye to the nobo's and got into Mrs Gorp's car. I really felt bad because I walked in the rain for the last 1/2 hour and I had a real hiker funk going from the last 5 days of walking. My shirt had already been wet for the last couple days from the humidity and I needed a shower. :-))) When we got to her house, I said hello to her husband, Larry, then headed right off for a shower. Boy, sometimes there just isn't anything better than a shower. I washed lots of dirt and grime off, shaved and washed my hair. (No jokes!!) I have hair, I just have a wider part down the middle than most. :-))) I talked to Larry and Mrs Gorp for a little while, but didn't want to be in the way, so I went up to the third floor (my private room) and opened my bounce box with my laptop in it. It was in one piece!! This is the first time that I've actually bounced my laptop and it worked out fine. I insured it for $1,600.00 just in case and I'll still bounce it along now that I see it works. Mrs Gorp fixed a fantastic dinner...rib-eye steaks, baked potato, broccoli, bread and a delicious salad, then she made brownies and topped them off with Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream, Hershey's chocolate syrup and whipped topping. Larry made a pot of coffee for after dinner. I'M NOT LEAVING!!!!!!! :-))) Oh yeah, I almost forgot....Mrs Gorp even fluff dried my down sleeping bag and washed and dried my dirty clothes. Mrs Gorp, all I can say is - if you ever need anything, anything at all, all you have to do is ask and I'll help anyway I can. One more thing....I'm up to 3 in the leaf catching game. I know that I'm in the lead because I've been handicapped by the guy that makes the rules.....me!! :-)))