Date: 2007-08-16
From: Stony Brook Shelter

To: Thistle Hill Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today's entry could actually be titled "The Misadventures of Easy Strider". The day actually got off to a good start as I was able crank out about 13 easy miles by 1:30 or so. I was in need of some extra supplies to hold me over before reaching Hanover, NH and I had 2 opportunities for a re-supply today. One at Woodstock, VT and the second at South Pomfret, VT. I reached Woodstock after the first 13 miles and thought I'd try to hitch the 4 miles to re-supply and have some lunch. I was able to connect on a ride rather quickly and was dropped off in the parking lot of the local grocery store. I was not aware of it, but Woodstock is one of those upscale New England communities, so even though they are probably use to seeing hikers in town, I felt somewhat out of place here.I did my shopping quickly and after leaving the market, looked for a place to sit down and eat lunch. I didn't see any out of the way place, so I walked across the street to a road side motel, where I could see a nice grassy area, with lawn chairs facing a view of a lazy flowing river. Seeing a women gardening in the back, I asked her if she would mind me sitting here for a little while. She had no problem with this and even brought me a handful of cherry tomatoes from her garden. So far this side excursion from the trail was delightful. I finished lunch, and began walking down the Main St. of woodstock to hitch back to the trail.I was lucky again, to get a ride quickly in the back of a pickup truck and told the rider I'd knock on the cab window when he reached the trail head. He shot down the highway as I held on, and I started to notice the landscape looked subtley different then when I came in. After about 4 miles I did not see the trail head and began to worry a bit. Finally after 5 miles I knocked on the cab window and the driver pulled over. I explained to him that I was sure this was the right road and could not understand why I did not see any sign of the trail yet. So I pulled my guide out to verify this and my jaw dropped as I read it. Instead of leaving Woodstock on Rt. 12, I had left on Rt. 4! My BIG bad.The guy driving the pickup said he'd pass back this way again in about 45 minutes and pick me up if I was still here. I thanked him, and crossed the road to start hitching back to Woodstock. At this point I was in dispair. I still had to cover another 7 miles and this was going to really mess up my ability to arrive at the shelter before dark. It started to look like a very tough hitch on this section of road, when a small car slowed down and stopped. I was elated to get a ride from Arialle a local resident who was driving to Woodstock. We got a friendly conversation going, and after I explained my situation, she said she would drive me right to the trail head on Rt. 12. Saved by a Trail Angel!After Arialle dropped me off, I thanked her for her help, and starting hiking fast. I though I could still make it by night fall. About an hour into the hike the skies became grey and I could here the thunder rolling in. I knew some bad weather was on it's way. After I put my pack cover on the rain came down and the lightning flashed. Normally I like to hike in open areas at low and high elevations but haven't done this in a while. Of course this afternoon I passed through a number of these clearings during the height of the lightning and rain, praying that I'd get through untouched. At one point an unusually strong wind picked up for about 3 minutes. I later learned that this storm was part of a tornado in the area near Hanover.I finally arrived at the shelter as it became dark, totally soaked. The shelter was almost full, but I was able to squeeze in. I just wanted to put some dry clothes on and crawl into my sleeping bag. Bottom line, I guess would be that if I had not made the choice to venture into Woodstock I would have made it to the shelter dry and early in the day, but then again I met some fine, kind people in Woodstock today. Life on the trail is about choices. They can be good, bad, or sometimes both.