Date: 2003-11-01
From: velvet rocks shelter

To: happy hill shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: overcast clouds

these long nights are going to be the end of me. i was wide awake at 3:30 this morning (after having already gotten 8 1/2 hours of sleep). i never went back to sleep. i laid and listened to the sounds of hanover for three hours, until it was light enough for me to start packing up. i was in hanover by 7:15 and the post office didn't open until 8:30. i killed the time on a bench in front of the post office, watching the town wake up and begin its busy saturday. the shops started to open up. the streets became busier with traffic. the sidewalks slowly started to fill with more people. it was nice having the first part of the day to myself in downtown hanover. there was the occasional runner or walker, and very few cars. other than that i had the city to myself. the post office finally opened and i found the package of food that i'd mailed to myself, along with two other items. there was a letter from my friend, girl next door, and a package full of halloween candy. you better believe that i dove right into the halloween candy and half of it was gone before i even left the post office. a huge thank you to girl next door for the letter and the new homie (both really made my day). i should probably interject at this point with a brief explanation of what or who a homie is. before i started this journey i received a package in the mail from girl next door. in it was a two inch tall plastic figure that is called a homie- he is dressed in the typical baggy clothes of a street thug, or homie. GND sent him to me so that i would have someone to talk to and play with while i'm on the trail and all alone this winter. the first homie that she sent me seems to have been lost in a waterfall in maine. it was a sad day for me. i took a picture of homie in front of a waterfall and then i'm not sure what happened to him. he was just gone. but, now i have a new homie and everything is better]. and, also a big thanks to dad and karen for the candy. they know exactly what i like- mini reeses cups. did i ever mention that i am going to be an uncle? well, it is true. my brother, gresham, and his wife, piper, are expecting their first kid. i talked to them on the phone today and they informed me that it is going to be a boy. oh yeah, i am glad to see that they are doing their part to keep the male population going strong in our family. it doesn't surprise me really. after all, there are three of us collins boys already, so it only makes sense that they would have a son. it is nice to know that the collins name will carry on for at least one more generation. i can't imagine being in their shoes right now. experiencing the miracle of having a baby. heck, i can't imagine being in my brother's shoes and being married. of course, i can't really imagine having so much as a girlfriend either. maybe one of these days i should be so lucky. maybe. i am proud to say that i got in and out of hanover and only spent $1.91. yes, i spent less than two dollars. i bought a quart of milk, an oatmeal cream pie, and mailed a letter. it isn't easy going into a town and spending such a small amount of money. of course, it kind of is when you don't have much money to spend. usually when a hiker goes into a town, it is very easy to get sucked in and end up spending entirely too much money on food and drinks and whatever else. it is surprising how fast it can add up. i have been in a funk lately. ever since this whole ankle mess started i have been in a funk. i have been going downhill. i haven't enjoyed hiking at all. i have been completely sick of it. i don't want to be in a funk. i don't want to be looking for an excuse to quit with every step that i take. i want to enjoy this. i want to be able to appreciate the incredible things that i am seeing and doing. i don't want to be completely mad and pissed off when i am hiking. but, for some reason, that is how i have been lately. i had a long talk with God on the way to the shelter this afternoon and i think that things will be better from here on. i think i will have a better attitude about things and will hopefully be able to find my way out of the funk. i was rather surprised to see people at the shelter when i got here. i am sharing the shelter with four people- 3 students from dartmouth college that are learning the practice of leave-no-trace camping; which, is being taught by a woman that works for the ATC (appalachian trail conference) in new hampshire. these folks were nice enough to share their dinner with me (after i'd eaten the rest of my halloween candy and fixed a dinner for myself). just don't tell them that i threw a candy wrapper on the ground. i did it to see if they would notice, since they are supposed to be practicing leave-no-trace tactics. lastly, i say a good-bye to new hampshire and a hello to vermont. i crossed the connecticut river today and that serves as the border between the two states.