Date: 2016-07-24
From: Woodstock Stage Road

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: clear sky

Wet tent again this morning, but guess what--it doesn't matter because tonight I'm going to be in Lebanon staying at my grandparents' house! I'll be sleeping in a DRY bed! In DRY, CLEAN clothes! On LEVEL ground!So, you'd think that because I knew that I'd be at my grandparents' house tonight that I would hike faster, right? Well, apparently, that actually means that I have zero motivation. Vermont did all that it could to make me more motivated. The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight, barely any bugs AT ALL, beautiful views, gorgeous flowers, sunshine, a floral breeze, difficult though enjoyable terrain, ECSTASY! I just was definitely in a "sit on a porch and drink iced tea" kind of mood, not a "let's hike 20 miles" kind of mood.We did our best. We soaked up the sun (and tried not to burn our translucent skin), munched on bunches of raspberries, and snacked a lot. When it got really difficult to keep going, we played a story-telling game. Verge said, "Okay, make a story about the renaissance and pirates," so obviously I came up with a story about a boring girl in the time of the renaissance who was upset that everyone was good at things besides her. One day, she saw a strange ship come ashore and the hunky captain saved her after she fell out of her window, and she snuck aboard and soon realized it was actually a time machine...etc. Then I told Verge that she had to come up with a story about elves and a magical lollipop, so she proceeded to tell an awesome story about an elf that invented a lollipop that every time you licked it you would get inspired, and he hid it away because it would be too powerful of a weapon when in the wrong hands, but of course years later someone found it and--plot twist--a dog licked it and got really smart and found a little girl companion and they went to go find the elves who created the lollipop...etc. This game was QUITE entertaining, but it didn't last long because we ran out of energy and inspiration...guess we needed a magical lollipop.Finally, there were only 3.5 miles left until Hanover, NH. I decided to book it the rest of the way. I started to get filled with so much excitement and adrenaline. Only like 3 miles until New Hampshire? WHAT?! HOW did that happen?! Hiking down the hill, my emotions started to go a little wacky. At first, I was so thrilled that I was almost to New Hampshire! This is the state I've been most eager to reach! I've been dreaming of the perfect few days at my grandparents' house since I started the trail! But then, it hit me. I only have two states left. Two. Two out of fourteen. I will only have 442 miles left. That sounds like a lot, but in comparison to 1,747, it's nothing! I started to tear up. Only 442 miles left means that this adventure is coming to an end. I really don't want it to end...but I quickly told myself to cut it out and suck it up. Save the tears for Katahdin! (because there will be tears on Katahdin...)There was a lot of road walking towards the end, so I was able to hike really quickly. I couldn't stop smiling. I could hear NH calling my name!! The Connecticut river was finally in sight, and I couldn't take it any longer! I started running! I'm sure I was quite a sight, with my 25lb pack bouncing on my back as I not-so-gracefully ran across the bridge towards the border of Vermont and New Hampshire. I made it!! I've now officially hiked from Georgia to New Hampshire. Man, that feels amazing. I saw a lifeguard down below who saw me cheering, and he cheered with me.I finished the day hiking into Hanover, seeing Dartmouth, and running to hug my grandpa, who was waiting by his car in town. Verge arrived shortly after, and my grandpa took us to see the place where my parents met and worked together called, "Everything But Anchovies." Then we all went to get ice cream at our favorite little spot in Lebanon called the Dairy Twirl. Grandma was waiting at home with the most delicious egg salad I've ever had. The night ended with everyone falling asleep to an old NCIS episode on Netflix (while I sat here catching up on my blog). What a day. Can't wait to have a much needed day off of hiking tomorrow.