Date: 2004-08-12
From: Thistle Hill Shelter

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

14.6 mi. in 8 hrs.Went to sleep with visions of a short easy walk to Hanover. No rainstormsovernight, but a clammy, misty, sodden environment to hike out into. There were over a dozen hikers in and around the shelter. Three of them, Spice Man, Lorax and Joker, are eager to reach Hanoverto drive up to the final Phish concert at the airbase in north of here thisweekend. They and everyone else resolved the night before to be up by 5:30 thismorning. I was first out at 6:10, closely followed by Beater and Wife, and stillno one else was stirring. We wanted to beat the predicted afternoon rains. Turns out Beater got his name after making some sudden movement whichaccidentally banged into Wife, and was so named by an eyewitness to theevent.Lots of little wooded hills and hillside pastures. How the summer hasflown by already: The fields were full of Queen Anne's Lace, Goldenrod,Black-eyed Susans, and some purple aster-like flowers. I'm sure my bees arechowing down on goldenrod back home by now. That's a major portion of my honeycrop. Hope it doesn't crystallize in the combs in the chilly September nights before I can harvest it. Thanks again for babysitting them,Mac.The trail brought me into the settlement of W. Hartford by mid-morning,where sits every hiker's friend: a general store with a grill. Even though it'sfamed for its milkshakes, I settled for an omelet and OJ because of the earlyhour. Sun not yet over the yardarm, you know.By 1:30 I popped out of the woods onto a back road of Norwich, which led me intothat elegant town just as a heavy warm drizzle set in. It was a treat to walkunder I-91 down over the bridge crossing the Connecticut River into Hanover.I've been to Hanover for many reasons many times, but this seemed the mostunique. First, a brief visit to the Dartmouth Outing Club to clean up and seeother hikers. Unfortunately, bad hiker behavior a few years back resulted infraternities no longer serving as hostels. Gloria found a room for us at thisSuper 8 Motel just outside town. Two hurricanes promise to dump inches of rainon us and the trail over the next three days. Let it rain, let it rain, etc. I'drather take a second zero day rather than hike out into a driving storm. Before catching the bus to the motel, I cruised around town for old times'sake. There I spotted Allegheny, fully recovered from his sakebite. He told meeverything in great detail. It was good to see him again, and good to hear herecovered so quickly. I steered him to this motel. First items of business:shower, laundry, send out for Italian food, and call home. I remain glued asever to the weather channel. While doing laundry I struck up a coversationwith another traveler. Turns out he's also on his way the the final PhishConcert. He's serious: this will be his 100th Phish show! He explained to me howfar they've come from the early days when they were a clone of the Dead. Ifilled him in on Trey Anastazio's invitation for the Bangor Symphony to send upa chamber group to play Stravinsky's "Histoire du Soldat." at the Phish Concertat Limestone, ME. a few years back.Full once again, all cleaned up andsweet-smelling (???) again, so time for bed. G'nite!!Now or Never