Date: 2007-08-30
From: Happy Hill Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: broken clouds

mi. 9.8sleep hammockdest. Thistle Hill Shelter day 49 I am going to keep today's short. This will mean I'm finally caught up. It takes more time than you would think to keep up on this. I finally woke up after 9am today. I was feeling tired and sick still, but a lot better. I eat some oreos and headed south around 10:30. Today saw another long roadwalk. The only good part of it was that I passed a small deli. $12 later I had a large chicken deli meat sandwich, a liter of cola, and 3 king sized snickers. Stopping early last night may add to the time it takes me to get to Rutland. I wanted a little extra incase. After that I came to a bridge over a god stream. I was feeling nasty after not showering in about 6 days. So I walked underneath the bridge and went for a swim. I also used some of the campsudds that I found in a hiker box and have been carrying for awhile. That and my bandana made a huge difference. I left feeling really clean, and a little like a bum. But more clean than anything. I found out from a local day hiker later it is a big local swimming hole. Also a lot of people jump off the bridge. I'm really not into the jumping part. But the swimming was great. The walk to the next shelter was pretty easy. I am feeling a lot better, but still feeling under the weather. I am still taking dayquil. I can sleep with taking it, so I am taking that instead of the Green Death ones. This way I can still get an early start tomorrow. Right after I got to the shelter it really started thundering. Only a little rain though. I though I was going to have the place to myself than Jared pulled up. An 18 year old southbounder that I had heard of but haven't seen yet. It's fun to talk to people that read your shelter entries for the last month and finally met you. I was going to hang in the shelter tonight but 2 northbounders pulled up and I didn't want to hog it all. They did tell us of a cool stop to sty out tomorrow night. A lookout 15 miles away that should have good views. That will mean an easyish 15 into Rutland the next day to resupply. I am going to finally do my first in and out there and not stay overnight. I would have in Hanover, but found a free place to setup. One of the frat houses there will also let you stay for free. Jared said they were cooking and gave them some. Gear notes The new golite trail runners I bought are working out great. They are also really light. My size 13 feels lighter than Jared's size 8 Montrails. They feel great on everything but the road walks. Not a huge deal. Although I hear I have a bug one coming up tomorrow. One the roads I can feel the small treads pushing up on my feet. But these are designed for trails and not roads, so I can deal with that. Steri-pen. This is only my second day using it. I was going t pack out a backup water treatment, but forgot. So it's all o nothing yet again. So far n complaints. It's really nice t be drinking water i 90 seconds without pumping. Today I would treat one liter. Then drink it, then treat 2 more for m camelback. Before I would have t wait there 5 minutes, then wait 3 minutes before drinking.