Date: 2009-06-23
From: Cloudland Farm

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 16.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up a little late with sun smiling down on the tent. Since we were not able to find anyone at the farm last night I was a little apprehensive about going up and meeting them. After a little breakfast I packed up and went up to the house. The owner Bill Emmons came out and could not have been nicer. He explained that they have hikers stay all the time and that they had not been home the night before because they had taken the kids out to a movie. He talked with us for a long time and sold us some ice cream, homemade beef jerky, and sodas. We hit the trail in great spirits around 8:45. Having seen Squeak and WD-40 the night before we thought that they were behind us and hiked slow to see if they would catch up. On the way to the first shelter we also ran into Big Boots who was doing a big day to Hanover. We talked to him for awhile and then pressed on. While hiking through a big (and rare) stand of hemlocks, Boof caught up to us. We were busy catching up with him when we ran into our friends from yesterday. The Russian couple Leo and Anna out for another day hike. He greeted us like old friends screaming out "Burdmaan and Leetle Vayne!". He talked to us for some time and then offered Boof and Big Boots adjustments, which with our prompting they accepted. We continued on and came to the small town of West Hartford. Got a little time on the internet in the public library and had a great lunch at the general store there. No sign of the Dan's so we just kept hiking. The last few miles into Hanover were easy but very buggy. To the point that we did not stop walking until we got to the road in Norwich Vermont. We crossed over the bridge into the town of Hanover and came to the green to find the Dans there playing soccer. We talked with them, Boof, and Big Boots for awhile and then it was time to eat. The Dans said that someone had recommended a indian restaurant so we went there for a meal. One of Birdman's birding friends from NJ who came to visit us there has a sister who lives north of Hanover. She offered us a place to stay for the night and we gladly accepted. Her husband picked us up on the way home from work as we finished dinner and we are sleeping in Vermont for one last night.VT birds: 6 vt list: 75Vermont birds: Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Hermit Thrush, Ovenbird, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Veery, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown Creeper, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, American Redstart, Scarlet Tananger, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Black-capped Chickadee, Canada Goose, Great Blue Heron, Willow Flycatcher, Green Heron, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Roughed Grouse, Barred Owl, Tufted Titmouse, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Blackpoll Warbler, Northern Parula, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, White-throated Sparrow, Winter Wren, Common Loon, Eastern Wood Pewee, Wilson's Warbler, Common Grackle, Chimney Swift, Least Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, House Sparrow, Rock Pigeon, American Crow, Red-tail Hawk, Wood Thush, American Robin, Swainson's Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Alder Flycatcher, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mallard, Cerulean Warbler, Spotted Sandpiper, Great crested Flycatcher, Morning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow Warbler, Black&whhite Warbler, Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinch, Barn Swallow, Field Sparrow, Broad-winged Hawk, Baared Owl, Veery, Bobolink, House Wren, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Parula, Blackburnian Warbler, Gray Catbird (75 species)