Date: 2015-07-23
From: West Hartford, VT

To: Norwich, VT
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: broken clouds

Just after 6:00am I sat up on my couch cushions-turned bed and realized the 4 hikers from last night were already gone. Although Huey had set up his own cushioned bed behind a bar and I couldn't see him, I knew he was still behind it sleeping after our 26 miles yesterday. Feeling restless and unable to drift back to sleep, I got up, searched the wall covered in old movies, and threw in Annapolis. With the volume turned down low, I sat close to the TV while I journaled until eventually Huey joined me soon after. We watched the movie, momentarily retreating outside to say thank you to Randy before he headed off to work for the day. His wife, Linda, would resume the role of spoiler for the morning.Around ~8:00am, the first hiker would arrive, followed by Moosehead soon after, and eventually Yoohoo, Wilson, and Rabbit will roll in. Linda quickly got busy preparing a healthy portion of pancakes for everyone, along with coffee and soda. We sat around her kitchen island enjoying our meal as she told us a bit about their history as trail angels. In August of 2011, as hurricane Irene made her way inland, 11" of rain fell in 24 hours causing the White River across the road from their home to rise. It rose so much that their old home, along with 3 others in the town, were sent flowing downstream. The only thing that remained was the old barn which I slept in last night - as did they for 18 months during the construction of their new home. I sat there unable to comprehend the amount of rain it'd take to cause the White River, flowing close to ~20-25ft below their home, to reach the level it did. A few thru-hikers were taking refuge in the barn at the time and had to leave as flood waters encroached on their land. Randy even had to help rescue a female hiker that was taken by the current as she exited the barn. Only 4 years later and this family is back to giving so much after losing nearly everything. I shouldn't have to say anything more about their generosity. God bless, Randy and Linda.We returned to the trail, the road in front of their home, with full bellies intending to only hike the ~7 miles to nearby Norwich, VT. We said goodbye to Moosehead who was meeting with 2 friends wanting to hike with him, and followed the road close to half a mile before entering the woods at Podunk Road, just after crossing under I89. Between us and Norwich was Happy Hill, rising ~1,000ft over the next ~4 miles. With Yoohoo, Huey, and Rabbit nerding out and discussing video games, I threw in my music and zoned out for the majority of the hike. Wilson followed quietly in the rear just behind me. The ~7.5 mile stretch was easy and we covered it in a few hours. We eventually exited the woods into Elm Street that would lead us down into Norwich. The first intersection we hit contained a couple containers of trail magic including sodas and cookies. Seeing that we were within a quarter mile of where we'd be staying, we grabbed a quick soda and continued on. We soon reached the home of Short & Sweet and her husband Bill.We met Short & Sweet eating lunch in her screened-in porch. She invited us in and immediately began introducing herself and giving us the run down. A handful of people in the Norwich/Hanover area provide trail angel services and ask nothing in return or, perhaps, like Short & Sweet, a little work around her home in exchange for a place to crash. Before we knew it we were all relocating stacka of firewood from outside into her garage for the upcoming winter. Using a cart, a couple ladders, and 12 seta of hands, we were diving into the work. Huey was meeting a friend and former thru-hiker and soon bailed on us. As we relocated the wood and a wall of firewood began forming inside of the garage, we began realizing just how much arm muscle we have lost. The work wasn't hard, not even close, but it was noticeable since the only arm workout I've had over the past ~4 months is the constant use of trekking poles.Moosehead and his friends walked by, seemingly quickening their pace after we called out to them and told them what we were doing. At 1:00pm, Rabbit peeled off to begin our showers as the rest of us continued working. Next was Wilson, followed by Yoohoo, and finally myself. I joked to Wilson that we were going to put bars of soap into a pillowcase and beat him with it since he was the one that set up this work-for-stay. With clean bodies and fresh clothes provided by Short & Sweet while ours went into the laundry (for me: a tight, green cotton tee and size 30 shorts that fit loosely) we were able to score a ride into nearby Hanover, NH from a gentleman who was dropping off another hiker. Although we entered New Hampshire, we won't officially enter until tomorrow once we cover the few miles by road. He dropped us off at E.B.A.'s (Everything But Anchovies), a pizzeria-style place known for its pizza and buffet. The upscale downtown of Hanover was bustling with young people, just a couple blocks from Dartmouth College. We were the only ones, along with Huey and his friend Gilly, inside of EBA's though and enjoyed a quiet lunch buffet to ourselves. After lunch Gilly drove us ~10 minutes away to an outfitters where I was interested in checking out their sleeping bag options. I recently asked my mother to send my bag back as the White's approach, but during the cleaning/storage process over the past couple months, she informed me it had taken on a sickening smell and was worried it may literally make me sick to sleep in. However, after checking out the selection, I realized their computer system had crashed and were only accepting cash. Normally I would have a few hundred dollars in cash on me, but today wasn't one of those days. I had to pass on a sleeping bag. I know it might be dumb, but I've been considering attempting the White's without a sleeping bag and playing with fire in the process. My brain should have finished developing by age 26, but perhaps mine will be closer to 27.Gillymthen returned us all to the home of Short & Sweet where we'd relax for the next few hours, being bums as we are on nearo/zero days. In the early evening, Short & Sweet ran us down a mile into Norwich to a small ice cream shop as a way to thank is for moving the firewood. For $2.00 we enjoyed large soft serve ice cream cones covered in sprinkles. It was like a gay pride parade in my mouth. Calm down - it's legal nationwide now, so I'm in the clear. I also grabbed a couple Coke's from an adjoining store and we were soon back at her home. A couple hours later and a houseful of hikers, the priority shifted to dinner. Close to half an hour later after an entertaining process of relaying the orders of ~7 hikers to a Chinese restaurant, including being hung up on during the first attempt, I successfully placed our orders. Dinner eventually arrived and we crowded around a table on the screen porch and enjoyed our varied meals. We would also enjoy a dessert of bread pudding prepared by Short & Sweet who happens to be quite the cook.As we lounged around on the porch digesting our meals, Short & Sweet and Bill shared their story of why they have played host to hundreds of thru-hikers since 2011. Their son, who thru-hiked the AT a few years ago and is currently thru-hiking the PCT, found himself with an infected blister on his heel in the Smokies early in his thru-hike. A weekender happened to be at the shelter and suggest he hike out with him to visit a doctor. After doing so, the doctor informed him that the infection was extremely close to reaching his Achilles heel and ruining his hike - several days off to heal was suggested. The family of the weekender took her son in for 6 days, feeding him, caring for him, including him in boke rides, board games, etc.. Short & Sweet put together a basket of goodies as a show of thanks for caring for her son. Although the 2 families would gradually become friends, spending time hiking together and keeping in touch during the holidays, at this point in time their response was simple: pay it forward. Ever since then, a few years and several hundred hikers later, Short & Sweet and Bill, along with several trail angels in the immediate area, have been doing just that. Her sharing this story with us was a way to encourage us to pay it forward as well, whether on the trail or after our thru-hiking days are over. It was a powerful story, one I was fortunate enough to be a part of. If the seed wasn't already planted from af the kindness I've received over the past several months, this really helped to drive the poiunt home.We eventually hit our wall and would all retire into the basement where enough air mattresses to sleep 7 hikers were laid out on the floor. Yoohoo and I climbed onto one together, Rabbit and Wilson beside us, and 3 other hikers on single mattresses beside them. Knowing a couple of the hikers from previous nights, I knew the night would most likely bring snoring and farts - me with the farts.Here's to pancakes, pizza, and Chinese, being a stone's throw from New Hampshire, and 2 powerful stories representative of being Vermont strong.