Date: 2015-08-12
From: After Trescott Road

To: Vt Border
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: few clouds

Camping 200 feet off the trail not only makes it hard to find a campsite ¢ it makes it hard to find the Trail again in the morning!   I should have left a track of bread crumbs. One of the places I was concerned about hiking in the dark with a weak headlamp was "Velvet Rocks" (so called because they're covered with moss & lichen). They turned out to be very little problem.At first, it looked as if the Trail would go right by them: "Why aren't we going up them?" I'm used to the Trail always going up & over every serious hill or rock! Then came a series of switchbacks taking me easily up & around them. Well marked ¢ they would have been easy to follow even in the dark. Didn't have to CLIMB any rocks. Oh well, it was prettier in daylight anyway!There's a big flat rock I've referred to in the past as King Arthur's round table, picturing a band of knights eating around it. I'll admit it didn't impress me so much this time. The far side of Velvet Rocks did have one tricky spot, with roots & steep rocks; yet even the ledge going down to town seemed different [easier], after weeks on the rocksSo I could have made it to the shelter last night, but I had ended up camping in a nice enough space & had no reason to do a lot of miles today. I saw no point going a half day beyond Hanover & having to hitch back to get the bus to the airport tomorrow. I had planned from the beginning to take time off at this point for a family reunion in Central Illinois. Based on past performance (you get lots of logistical experience doing section hikes), I figured I could get at least this far in 6 weeks, & Hanover has the best connections with Boston in Northern New England. Optimistically, I HAD hoped to get substantially into Vermont, but the connections would have been more complicated. . The first hikers I met were a Family group with kids & dog. Then I met NOBOs Grandma Bear, Boris, Mantis, Mado, Semi, Moonshine & Moonlover, Drop Bear (bears do drop from trees in Australia), Stretch, plus a couple of SOBOs in town. I thought there would be a big rush of hikers heading out of town, since so many had stayed an extra day because of the rain. Actually, I only saw a few, but the effects became obvious. Recently, in an effort to be known as a great Trail Town, Hanover has developed a list of people who are willing to take hikers into their homes for a night. There's no hostel in town, tho a nearby motel has always tried to substitute. When I tried calling those on the list (which you can't get till you get into town, when it may be too late), I got very few answers, & only one call-back, who explained that they were taking a few days off after having had so many hikers the last few days. So I didn't get to take advantage of this set-up. It sounds like a great idea ¢ I just hope hikers don't abuse the privilege. I got into town around 10:00 am & had my traditional breakfast at Lou's. Then I got a shower at the community center & hung out at the Dartmouth Outing Club building, updating Trailjournals for several hours. I visited the Art Museum but couldn't work up much interest in the special exhibit: etchings of 17th - 19th - century Venice. I also took time to hike my pack down across the Connecticut River; so that I could say I've completed the first 2 states. There was a farmers market on the green. I wasn't buying produce; however, the food booths were of interest to a hungry hiker. There are a variety of good restaurants in Hanover, yet these appealed to me more. So I got Pad Thai at one booth & a Felafel dish at another & skipped the "locally-grown" burger with bulgar salad. After picking up a package of take-home stuff at the Post Office & talking with Susan, it was up the hill (not as far as the shelter) to tent for the night. Had trouble getting to sleep [I hadn't walked as much as usual & was excited about going home?]