Date: 2016-08-10
From: Massachuusetts border

To: Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

I am in Vermont! I crossed into the Green Mountain State early yesterday morning after stopping short the night before.The terrain has changed from mellow and somewhat boring in Massachusetts to significant climbs. The climbs started in Massachusetts when we summit Mt. Grey lock (highest point in Mass). Another high light was Upper Goose Pond cabin. The cabin is ran by the ATC and hikers are allowed to stay in the cabin for free. In addition there are canoes and swimming. Feather and I each took out a canoe. We also swan. For dinner a trail angel cooked spaghetti and meatballs. In the morning before we hiked out we had a traditional pancake breakfast.I was able to do 17 miles yesterday before I came to Route 9 which runs into Bennington, VT. Being that I did 17 miles and it was 6 o'clock I decided to hitch into Bennington for a cold beer. I caught a ride with a dude named Bear. He was dropping a load of hikers off at the trail head and agreed to haul me back into town. He dropped me off at a place called Donavan's for one beer. It was a little sleepy in there so I went further into town looking for a tavern with food. There was a micro brewery like place that was crowded. I went in and Time Warp and Pine Apple Express texted me making their presence in town known. Soon they joined me at the bar followed shortly by Haiku.We ate and consumed several beers and then the subject of where to stay came up. Haiku mentioned that Robert Frost (poet) was buried in a graveyard in Bennington and he intended to go see the grave and stealth camp nearby. I am familiar with Robert Frost and like the "Road Less Traveled" so I took the road less traveled and headed to the cemetery with Haiku. Time Warp and Pine Apple Express came along for the ride.On the way to the cemetery we met some locals outside of the gas station. They warned us that rain was coming. Weirdly enough one of the locals reminded all of us of Hunter S. Thompson. With Hunter S's weather report we knew our stealth camping plan might end up with us getting wet. Pineapple Express gave us an out by pointing out a coffee shop that opened at 6 am... Out shelter from the storm!We made it to the cemetery and quickly found Robert Frost's grave (there were markets indicating where he was buried). Haiku read a Robert Frost poem (the one about gave many miles to travel before sleeping) and we respectfully left the area. We found an unoccupied space not to far away and cowboy camped under a big tree. Our loose plan was not to get too dug in (pun intended) and bolt when the rain started.At 5 minutes to 6 am rain drops started hitting my face. Time Warp was up fast and said "let's go"! We all four jump up, packed what little we had out and hiked to the coffee shop. We were the first customers through the door... The walk was short but we already were wet.After we sat down and got out of our rain jackets we ordered breakfast and coffee. Outside the rain was coming down in heavy sheets.We sat there all morning. The rain finally stopped. Cake came up (she was caught in the rain on the trail and was soaked). Haiku took off with her to get a motel room and soon a lady offered us s ride to the trail head (rain now stopped). Time Warp and Pineapple Express took her up on the offer and left. I stayed to finish my 10th cup of coffee and then go eat lunch at a pizza place.After lunch I caught an easy hitch back to the trail head. There are many hikers at the head drying or trying to dry out. I hiked up the steep rise out of Route 9 and seemed to climb the rest of the day. The trail was very wet and muddy. I made it to the second shelter which is 10 miles from Route 9. I was reluctant to go further as it started misting again. The shelter is jammed packed with hikers tonight... Southbound, Northbound and VT Long Trail Hikers. It just got dark and already there is a snorer.