Date: 2008-07-23
From: Lookout trail (2 miles south of Windturi Shelter

To: Vermont Rt 14
Miles today: 7.0

Woke up early as RJ left about 6 AM. Packed up and out by 7:30, still no rain, but the mountain top was fogged in. A beautiful and memorable morning. It was at this point as I walked down "Lookout Trail" to the AT, that I decided, as Forrest Gump had after running across the US several times, it was time "to go home". Rationale was based on the following: 1) after losing hiker partners, my heart really wasn't in it anymore 2) I was wet, and was going to get a lot wetter over the next two days (short term horizon, right?), 3)I had a big blister on my left heel, probably from walking in wet boots the previous few days 4) I missed Lynn quite a bit, and she was also ready to come home 5) Castiron's wife, Six Iron, would rejoin him the next day and even though they graciously invited me to continue on with them, he now had his regular partner back, 6) I'd proved to myself that I could hike Vermont and the Green Mountains (Graham, the Greens are beautiful and I bet the sking is great), 7) most of the significant stuff that was ahead of me could be enjoyed with Lynn, and I would save that for another day, and 8) if I leave now, I won't miss any of the Olympics or college football on the big screen. So, I informed Castiron of the decision. He looked at me and said "Ok, can you loan me your map as I left mine in the bounce box". So much for trail comraderie. I then hiked the 7 miles to Vt Route 14 pretty quickly. In the last mile or two before the road, I passed through some geography going up a slight rise, that matched perfectly what I had anticipated hiking in Vermont would be like. Seemed as if the good Lord was giving me a closeout image. The rain started falling hard as I crossed a big meadow just before the road. I stopped at the road where there was a parking lot with one car. Took off the pack, put on the rain jacket, and stood under a conifer to decide what the first step to get home would be. What happened next has to be God's hand in all of this. A van pulls into the parking lot, and drops a person off at the only other car there, starts to pull out, and then stops. Out jumps Tom (remember him from the previous day ala the water source)? He states: "you look like someone who needs a ride somewhere". He invited me to get out of the weather in the back of the van where he has no seats since he hauls kayaks in it. After telling him my situation and decision he offers to: 1) take me to his home where I can get a shower and get some dry clothes on 2) let me use the internet to make travel arrangements 3) take me by a shoe store so I can buy some shoes (remember the lost camp shoe?) to wear in place of the wet, muddy, odorous hiking boots, and to get some lunch. In a few minutes Castiorn arrives, and Tom offers to feed him and to take him to a motel where he can get out of the weather, and wait for Six Iron. This is real "trail magic", Tom is a genuine trail angel. I even commented to him later, that the thought occured to me that I might have just died out there on the trail and that God had brought me to "Hiker Heaven". At Tom's house, had a hot shower, a great hot lunch, and a wonderful conversation with Tom, his lovely wife (Diane I believe was her name), and their daughter, an 18 year old who was a great pleasure to talk with. A very nature beautiful gal who was headed off to college in the Colorado area. What a blessing to sit and talk wuith these folks. It seems there is a coach (high end bus service) that goes from Dartmouth College to Logan Airport every hour or so. Using the internet I booked a flight from Logan to Tampa that left that evening at 6'ish. Now all I needed to do was get some shoes, pick up my stuff that had been forwarded to the Hanover NH post office, and then catch the bus. We did all that in the next 90 minutes. After a very brief and way too short good bye, I left both Castiron and Tom. God's grace.