Date: 2004-07-01
From: Stratton Pond Shelter

To: Manchester Center, VT
Miles today: 10.6

Short day today to Manchester Center¢I use "short" in the relative sense, of course. It still took me almost 5 hours of walking at a decent pace to reach the road. When I got to the road, I stuck out my thumb and did something different¢I smiled. Usually when I¢m trying to get a hitch (all 2 previous times, anyway), I try to look worried and nervous, hoping someone will have pity on me. But I was talking with Haiku and Moon Pie about hitches several days ago, and they suggested smiling instead¢"People have enough unhappiness and worry in their everyday lives," the reasoning went. "They¢d be much more likely to pick up someone who looks cheerful." So I tried it, I got a hitch quickly, after about ten minutes, but did smiling help? Who knows? It did feel better-- or maybe I¢m just getting practiced at the whole hitchhiking thing.Anyway, I got a lift from a guy in a green Jeep Cherokee. I didn¢t get his name (something for which I feel guilty, but not extremely so), though I did guess from the conglomeration of bumper stickers on his car that he¢s a Vietnam Vet. From the conversation, it seems that he wants to hike the Trail but hasn¢t done any hiking in a long time.Anyway, he dropped me off at the Laundromat in town, and our four-minute acquaintance ended forever. Funny how that works.Did laundry, got a bite to eat, then went down to Sutton¢s Place, a little guest house, and got a room and a shower. After showering, I put on my nice clean clothes and spent at least five minutes staring at myself in the mirror and basking in the feeling of refreshed cleanliness.There was a scale in the bathroom, too. I weighed in at 150 with no clothes on-- not a significant drop from the last time I weighed myself, but still a little less than I'd like to be. (For reference, when I started I weighed in at 165.)After laying down for a brief nap, I hit the town. Manchester Center is a small town, but it¢s a ski resort town, which means there are a lot of shops and restaurants clustered in a small area. So the first place I went was the bookstore, which according to many people is apparently the best bookstore on the trail. I can see why-- it¢s like Barnes & Noble, but with a cozy, homey feel. Very nice-- I spend a long time just wandering through the aisles and basking in the atmosphere of the place. I feel at home here-- the inner nerd in me, long suppressed now by my outdoorsy side, feels at home again. I buy a book called "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain, which was recommended to me by Squish, and which is kind of a tell-all book about life in the restaurant industry. Excellent reading so far, and I¢m not even out of the bookstore. This book is great for anyone who likes cooking, who wants to cook well either at home or professionally, or who just likes eating in restaurants (I fall in the latter category.)The stomach is rumbling. (Geez, I had a McDonald¢s double quarter-pounder less than 4 hours ago!), and there¢s a Chinese place in town, so I go there for dinner. It¢s expensive, but not bad at all. Then it¢s off to the Outfitters Store, where Einstein the Hiker gets equal time with Einstein the Nerd.And there¢s a movie theater in town-- seeing movies has become one of those things I crave, so I go see "Spider Man 2." Excellent movie. Then it¢s back to Sutton¢s Place for some journaling and some Kitchen Confidential.Sparrow is there-- she got in later in the afternoon. She bought me a scone at the local coffee shop, which I accept, even though my stomach is still protesting somewhat at the large Coke and large popcorn I forced down it earlier.Today has been a good day, and it¢s been a long time since I¢ve enjoyed a simple town stop this much. I think I¢m getting used to running solo, for one thing. It used to be I couldn¢t stand being alone in towns, I always felt like I needed to be doing something with somebody. Now I feel comfortable by myself or with people, either one. I enjoyed doing my own thing today though.