Date: 2008-08-22
From: Laraway Mtn

To: Vt. 15, B&B near Johnson 
Miles today: 0.0

Long Trail 6.7 milesToday started off early. I made coffee, then sat out on a rock at the overlook on Laraway Mtn and watched the morning come to light. There was lots of valley fog about 2.000 feet below me and the sky started turning morning pink just around the corner of the mountain. I could see Mt Mansfield to the south, our climb on Sunday and I could see that Lake Champlain didn't have much fog off to the east.Mrs Gorp came out and joined me. I love watching the day begin. :-)I heard a bunch of coyotes yipping last night on the mountain top just below and in front of us. It's great being up here in the north country.We watched morning till we couldn't watch it anymore. :-) We both knew it was a town day and we only had 8.5 miles to walk before we got to VT 15 and hitched into Johnson, so we got packed up and was walking by 7am.We descended 1,400 feet and walked under some 30 foot side rocks for about 300 yards. They were dripping water from above. I imagine you could take a shower under there a couple days ago when we still had so much water on the trail. Yolanda Vega hikes by the 30-foot rock walls. We climbed almost 1,000 feet again and walked through some pines and crossed several streams with mini waterfalls, then descended 1,000 feet again.There was another climb of about 400 feet up to Roundtop Shelter. I got hungry, so I sat there looking through the register and then signed it and used up another smiley face sticker.There was a great view behind the shelter of the valley below. We walked on and saw lots of moose tracks, but never did see the buggers.We crossed a gravel road and then climbed up to Prospect Rock and had another nice view of the valley below.Next was a 500 foot descent to the suspension bridge over the Lamoille River. That was the nicest suspension bridge I've ever crossed. Yolanda Vega and I both crossed it at the same time and it barely move from our weight. Yolanda Vega hikes over the Lamoille River on the suspension bridge. There was a washed out cut in the bank when we crossed a little tributary, then in half a mile, we were at VT 15 and hitching to Johnson....with rotisserie chicken on our minds. :-)Hey, we,ve been out for 5 days and 4 nights, it's time to eat something that someone else cooked! :-)We got a ride in about 10 minutes and I walked into the grocery and bought lunch. Yolanda Vega went at that bird by ripping apart pieces and gnawing on it right in front of the grocery. I, on the other hand, put my bandanna on my lap like a gentleman and ate off of fine china and silverware. ;-)We resupplied for the next leg of this walk...enough food to get us to Jonesville on Tuesday, then Yolanda Vega called a B&B that had been mentioned in the registers....mostly because the nobos had written about the excellent breakfast.Marsha picked us up right there at the grocery and took us back to the B&B for the night.It felt great to get cleaned up and shave! :-)Windtalker and Ma came in later. We met them on the Trail a couple days ago. They are doing a section of the Trail and had a car at the B&B. We all went into Jefferson City and ate dinner at 158 Main...a very good restaurant. I had a traditional roast turkey dinner. :-)One thing on this walk that has surprised me is that I've had pretty good cell and data coverage in these north mountains....less so when I get low or in the local towns though.I forgot to mention it in yesterday's journal that I finally fell...the first time this year. :-(I was coming down one of the steep descents that we have so much of up this way and I stepped on what looked like good solid stuff, but it broke loose and I landed on my left cheek. I didn't even feel anything because it was so steep that to land on my left cheek, it only had to go down about two feet. It was almost like sitting down in a chair, but I wasn't on my feet, so it was a fall. :-)The other thing I did today was to finally finish that book I've been carrying and reading ever since I was in southern VA. It was "Cold Mountain". I really enjoyed the book, but it had kind of a sad ending. The best thing about finishing it is that now I don't ever have to carry it again! :-)Having a great time on the Long Trail...one of my little diversions from my Appalachian Trail walk this year. :-)