Date: 2004-07-15
From: Spruce Peak Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: light rain

today i'm taking a nero, which means it's a near zero day. there were lots of connections to people today - some interesting, some not, some dangerous, and some inspiring.this morning i got up at the usual time and outside the usual light rain could be heard mixed with the voices of the ¢youngins¢ camped below. the voices turned to yelps as the rain started to pour down hard, as it did all last night. i waited a little bit to see if it was just a passing shower. nope. "looks like it's going to be a late morning", i told little chicken. i stirred the coals in the wood stove and threw in more branches - back into the sleeping bag for a little while! two hours went by and the rain let up. we left the shelter around 10am.little chicken and i got an interesting hitch in from an older gentleman. actually it was a dangerous one since he almost caused two car accidents. he backed into someone's vehicle at a light and then just drove away. (the poor girl had no damage but she followed him around until we stopped at sutton place). and, on the way to sutton place, he almost t-boned another vehicle, and would have, if i did not raise my voice and say "car!" at the opportune moment.i checked into sutton place and we made our way back to the center of town. as we walked, hot chocolate (fireball's wife) was driving down the road. she could not find the trailhead. how opportune for us. we knew where the trailhead was and it was in the direction we were needing to go. (the synchronicities of trail magic are cool aren't they?) hot chocolate gave us a ride into town where we had pizza and shopped at EMS and the food store. i bought some new shoes - bigger ones this time to support my squished toes. little chicken's friend showed up and gave me a ride back to sutton place where i dropped off my stuff and gathered my smelly clothes. she and little chicken are going out of town for a zero, but gave me ride to the laundry before they left. (i mention all this to note that i haven't actually walked anywhere in town yet.)at the laundry i meet wildcat, coyote, ishmael, and easy duzit. i hadn't planned on seeing wildcat for a day or two - but that's just the magic doing what it does. it was very nice to see him again.after a shower, i walked down to the center of town to see when the barber opened and get some dinner. i chose to go to Manchester Pizza House. the walk there was humorous. everyone driving along the road stared at me, pointed, or laughed. i guess the citizens of vermont have never seen anyone in a stewart black kilt before.i walked up to the counter and looked at the menu. from behind me i hear, "hey, dharma!", i turn, and the 13 kids from last night are waving to me in unison. i'm floored and full of joy. this is great magic. i talk with the kids while their order is being placed - so many questions and desire for my attention. some of the youngins want pictures; i feel like a celebrity. move over britany spears. it is also nice to see and chat with fearless leaders, craig and hillary from mountain workshop. they say this crew of young hikers is one of the best they've had. i'd have to agree. they have such exuberance and great attitudes.after dinner i went to the bookstore to use the internet. wildcat was there dressing up his ophoto website pictures. the bookstore had a cafe called the "spiral press" where wildcat introduced me to brittany. she has one of the greatest smiles i've seen in a while, topped off with a pink red sox baseball cap. brittany, you are one in a million. i mention her because the day had been so easy, interesting, and fun - her presence just added a little more magic and that makes me feel good to be on the trail.i finally got to call swiss on the phone. it's been over a week since she's been off the trail, and it was great to hear her voice and share the doings of the previous weeks. she is in good spirits and preparing to take a vacation with her family. i know i, and many others, would love to see her back on the trail. she says she will, but not this year.i stayed up 'til midnight (way past hiker bedtime) with wildcat, sitting on the porch, recounting our best days on the trail. we also wanted to plan out the next few days, but decided to get to that tomorrow since we were both tired.staying at the Sutton Place tonight: ishmael, coyote, wildcat, and easy duzit.