Date: 2009-08-02
From: Thistle Hill Shelter - Trail Mile 456.4

To: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH - Trail Mile 441.8
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: broken clouds

Day 43[Watson & Holmes Report reaching Dartmouth College, (boy, could Jess teach them a thing or two), then "At the Super 8 motel in White River Junction, VT."Three photos for this day:At left: "New Hampshire!!!! - Carl, manager at Ramunto's Brick & Brew Pizza in Hanover, NH offers a free slice to hikers who drop by and sign their register (and water to canine hikers). It's GOOD pizza, and that's not just my hiker stomach talking!! Awesome!!"Next photo: "Vermont - Ten points and a beer to whomever can guess what all the tubes in the trees are for..."Third photo: "Vermont - Red Coat to Red Head Conversation:Watson: Ahh, New Hampshire - so close I can smell it.Holmes: Yeah, silly, it's just over that bridge. Let's go!!"Her journal entry:]Hanover, NH / Super-8 motel in White River Junction, VTIt was a long 15 miles into town, mainly because it was hard to judge distances with few landmarks. On the way in, I stopped for some raspberries, and then met Grin & Bear It, past thru-hikers who have retired and own some of the land through which the trail passes. They were out doing trail maintenance and enjoying the sun before the rain hit (which it did, later). Then we stopped at the West Hartford General Store to sign the register and get a quick snack. Brown Chicken stopped for lunch, he was trying to catch up with Brown Cow - half a day ahead of us. Kevin & Jamie also passed through, and complained about the mud - I just laughed. I thought it was a pretty good day on trail - they must have taken a side trail down.After West Hartford the trail again rerouted as compared to my topo maps, so guessing mileage was frustrating. It was a pretty walk through gentle rolling hills, though, so it wasn't that bad. We stopped for lunch at Happy Hill Shelter, and saw Brown Chicken again. Happy Hill was a nice shelter, cabin-style without an actual door and with a sleeping loft. The Dartmouth Outdoor Club had left quite a bit of literature about the town of Hanover, so Chicken and I took pictures of some of the flyers before moving on. A final few miles through the woods, then a few miles through the town on the Vermont side of the border, and then over the bridge into Hanover. Right on the corner as we get to the main square are DS&S and BCow waitng for Carpenter to arrive. Carpenter had left the trail in Dalton due to Lyme disease, but is now feeling better. His mom has driven him back to the trail (from South Carolina, I think?) but skipped ahead so he can continue to hike with DZ. I was planning a night in town to do laundry & shower, but there were no hostels, so I had checked prices that morning in camp with DZ&S. Eventually we decided to split two hotel rooms outside of town. Momma Carpenter drove her son and DZ and all our packs there, while Skeeter and H & I headed to Ramunto's for a free slice of pizza. Ramunto's was awesome, with a 200 page notebook as a trail register - half full from this year alone! We had free pizza, and then some. And let me tell you, as one who has long been searching for something comparable to Gino's in my hometown, or to the pizza stand above Journal Square in Jersey City, this was actually GOOD pizza. As in, not too thick, not to tangy a sauce, but not bland, not too much cheese as to be soggy, the crust slightly crispy but not so thin that it can't be folded without cracking, a good edge that was still chewy, and delicious toppings (Skeeter had Hawaiian, I had Meat Lover's). It was great. Even better, though, they let H stay in the entryway out of the rain while we ate. They even brought him a bowl of water. So nice!!Skeeter, H & I then caught a cab back to the hotel. Showers, laundry, some chores (super-glue the broken piece on my trekking pole, inventory my first aid kit for weight that can be lost and items in need of restocking, dry out some of my gear, etc.), and a couple phone calls home and to DD (a.k.a. Pilot Boy), and then I curl up in bed next to H, who was out like a light as soon as we got in!"43° 42' 8.82" N 72° 17' 21.73" W, 551 ftFor HarveysMom by Harvey's GrandPop