Date: 2014-07-05
From: The Lookout tower and cabin

To: West Hartford, VT
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

The SOBOS were up real early pounding away at their bags and getting an early start. Oh to be only 450 miles in.. I packed up and was out by 7:30 into a stiff and cool breeze, a tremendous 180 from only days ago.Today was to be an interesting day. Not many days offer several off the road chances to grab food and drink but this was one of them. I caught up with the duo of Stretch and Flesh at VT12 near Woodstock. Right off the trail was the pie lady and her store "On the Edge Farm" that offers more than just pie. I grabbed a yummy blueberry muffin along with some protein in chocolate milk and a Diet Coke. A tough but short climb up to Dana Hill and back down lead me to Woodstock Stage Rd and a short walk to Teago's General Store and Deli. I debated going in, but I'm glad I did. This is one of the best sandwiches I have had on the trail. Turkey with red onions and peppers and jack cheese type goodness.Couldn't ask for better weather as it was cool a little breezy and almost bug free. I was still listening to my Coolidge book and pounding away hills that reminded me of "The Rollercoaster" back in northern Virginia. I was trying to get to West Hartford where a package was sent by my dad with new dinners and some of my winter stuff to get ready for the Whites. I was feeling good and strong physically only getting to about 2000' feet and eventually down to under 1000. I stopped by Thistle Hill shelter for a quick break and at 3:30 there was already 6 hikers there for the night. That really blew me away cause the weather is so perfect to hike. 6 more hours of daylight. Tents were up everywhere. Confusing. I didn't know where I was going to stay for the night but that is the fun thing about it. Just figure it out when it's time. I pulled into West Hartford which is not much of anything and could be on of the smallest towns we will hike through. There is not one store in town at all, and come to find out the package that I sent to the post office is now closed for good! Uh oh! As I crossed the bridge where several younger guys were jumping off 30 feet to the creek below I came to a house where a lady was calling me over and asked if I wanted a drink. She asked, "Soda or beer?" Ha! Silly question. I hopped onto the porch and was handed a Bud Light and sat among a family of 4 at the time, with a wild rambunctious 5 year old boy trying to lasso his plastic rocking horse. Come to find out this place is an unpublished hostel with 2 other hikers already upstairs above the separate garage building. The Hart's have been hosting hikers in their house for 12 years now and couldn't be anymore nicer. A SOBO and a section hiker came down as they grilled hotdogs for us and kept feeding us beer. I pounded 5 dogs before stopping to be polite but I could have went more pretty easily. By then a NOBO who I have not met before by the name of Mission an older gentleman came to join us as well. The four of us sat on the porch trading hiking stories till it got dark and one by one headed upstairs for bed. No showers or laundry but a nice mattress inside an enclosed garage for free was fantastic. Sometimes you just go with it unplanned and hail hits you in the head like it did a couple days ago, and sometimes you get treated to an unexpected surprise like this. A very happy Figgy on my last night in Vermont! 450ish to go!SOTD, Brown Eyed Girl, -Van Morrison