Date: 2009-07-23
From: Bennington, VT

To: Story Spring shelter
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: light rain

Stats got up around 6. I wanted to keep sleeping, but knew I better get up. Chris and Arla made coffee for us, and I went across the street to the gas station to get a banana, which I hadn¢t had in a long time! Mr. Pink had texted one of the group, telling them that he had stayed at the shelter that was four miles before Bennington. I figured he¢d probably reach the road from which we were starting around 9, and I wondered if we would see him there. The group didn¢t want to pay a couple bucks each for the van, so we all walked into town and tried to hitch. I knew this was probably going to take awhile. It did... Halfmoon hid while the girls stuck at their thumbs. When the first vehicle pulled over, he jumped out and ran toward it. The guy didn¢t realize what he was getting into and said he could only take 2 people. Sunbeam and Halfmoon went. Four girls remained. We stood patiently until our ride came. It was a trail maintenance mother and daughter. As we drove to the trailhead, she was surprised to learn that we were all hiking the entire AT, as every other hiker they had ever picked up was hiking the Long Trail. I found that just as hard to believe... They were very nice woman, and they dropped us off in the parking lot where Sunbeam and Halfmoon were waiting. When I turned around, I saw Mr. Pink sitting cross-legged on the ground! My heart started racing. I was armed with information now and couldn¢t wait to confront him! He pretended as if nothing was wrong- as if we had never had any interactions. I had to get going. I had so much energy flowing through my veins that I lead everyone up the first mountain. My pack is the heaviest of anyone in this group, and they usually hike faster than me, but I held my own for awhile. Later on, I backed off and hiked with Squeegie for a bit.   Today was an exciting day for me because I would hike to Goddard shelter and Glastenbury Mtn, as well as Story Spring shelter, where my AT journey began last year. It was a very hot and sticky day, and the clouds remained low and heavy. The views were nothing like I had experienced last year. At Goddard shelter, we met two northbounders who started on May 21st! Apparently, they had taken no zeroes and hike 20 miles a day. Still, they insisted they were having fun.      We all later caught and passed them. I could not believe the sight of them hiking! They looked like elderly men and were moving much slower than I was. How could that possibly be fun? Rest is so important in any physical activity. It is the only way the body has a chance to repair the repeated damage we do to it. The lack of attention to their bodies that these (apparently college aged) kids were showing was very apparent, and very scary to me.    When I got to Kid Gore shelter for a break, a toothless man that seemed to recognize me greeted me. He asked me if I remembered him from Uncle Johnny¢s in Erwin. I felt uncomfortable, but tried not to show it. I sat at the picnic table and watched the dark clouds come closer and then decided I better get moving if I was to beat the rain. The beaver dam was not brilliant and blue like it was last year. It was a lackluster day, in general. Four and a half miles later, I arrived at a crowded Story Spring shelter. I was directed to the campsite where Sunbeam¢s group was set up by the shelter occupants. Before I reached their tents, I found a good place to tie up my hammock, where I could have my own little space. I went to collect water and then joined the group for dinner. Before the rain started, I got everything put away and tucked myself into my hammock.