Date: 2017-08-15
From: Lost Pond Shelter Tent Site 

To: VT 140/Wallingford, VT
Miles today: 11.3
Weather: moderate rain

8/15Lost Pond Shelter Tent Site to VT 140/Wallingford, VT 11.3 milesTotal miles:  1676.8I did a rare thing last night and set an alarm.  Becky and I had 11.3 miles to cover to get to Highway 140, and then would need to find a way to the town of Wallingford, 2.8 miles from the trail crossing. From Wallingford, we planned to catch a 4:40 bus to Burlington.  Due to the uncertainty of trail conditions, we wanted as early a start as possible.  After breaking camp and filtering water, we were on the trail by 7:10. The trail was reasonable, and we made good time all day.  We passed Little Rock Pond,  another of the beautiful, lake-sized ponds of which Vermont is rightfully proud.  We met a fairly large frog who was initially skittish about a photo opp. I got a passable photo, but Becky persevered and captured a face-on image that looks incredible.  We hiked on, climbing toward White Rocks Cliff. Along the way, we met Mama Bear and Cub. This mother/daughter duo have been section hiking together for eight years.  They both exuded such joyful personalities that Becky and I were both happy to pause and chat for a bit. Mama Bear told us that the two of them had been best friends for twelve of Cub's twenty-two years.  Cub added that it had cost her mother a piece of toast. Becky and I were perplexed, so they explained that twelve years ago, Cub had not been hungry for dinner and asked her mom to make her a piece of toast instead. "Why don't you make it yourself?" was her mom's response. "If you make it for me, I'll be your best friend for ten years." What parent could pass up an offer like that, especially when an extra two years got tacked on. To further cement the bond, Cub is presently attending Brown University, whose mascot is a bear. Mama Bear was proudly wearing her Brown University "Mama Bear" t-shirt. Cub plans a 2020 thru hike, but she promises to continue section hiking with her mom. It warmed my heart to meet yet another parent/child hiking team, as I returned to climbing the mountain with my favorite daughter.  We were making such good time that we decided to take the 0.2 mile side trail to White Rocks Cliff, where we were rewarded with one of the more spectacular views we have enjoyed in Vermont. We then hiked through a  fascinating section of forest, populated with towering evergreens above and short little evergreens below. It was beautiful to walk through, and the sharp but pleasant odor of spruce permeated the air.   We reached the Highway by 2:00 and thought we might hitch into town. We saw about six cars in fifteen minutes, none of whom stopped  (although most people waved). Perhaps we could have walked to town, but the highway was very curvy with absolutely no shoulder. Besides, it would have added an additional 2.8 miles to the day.  We called Green Mountain Taxi instead and were soon at Cumberland Farms, the gas station in Wallingford from where you catch the bus.  Becky and I thought about exploring the town, but opted instead to remain at Cumberland Farms, where we rested against our packs and consumed slushies, pizza, Gatorade,  and ice cream.  We might have resembled hiker trash, but we were friendly and unobtrusive hiker trash, and the employees and patrons were all very kind and open. The bus arrived right on time, and we enjoyed the three hour ride to Burlington. It rained most of the way, but was only lightly drizzling when we reached our destination of the University of Vermont. This beautiful campus partially resides along Prospect Street. Specifically, North Prospect Street. I guess this explains the street sign on campus that I just had to photograph despite the rain. It reads: NO PROSPECT.  It was a short walk to Becky' friend Julia's apartment. It was good to see her again. Becky brought me "civilian" clothes from home, and for the first time in months I was decked out in blue jeans, a cotton t-shirt, and my favorite ball cap. This cap, a gift from Stephen, is a subtle sign to all that a true Star Trek geek resides under it. Every once in awhile, I meet someone who catches the reference to one of my very favorite Deep Space Nine episodes.  "Go, Niners!" She also brought my Vessell's t-shirt from my gym at home. It's a good thing that she remembered my belt, since my jeans, a little tight when I left home, seem to have mysteriously grown larger since I left home. Becky and Julia enjoyed catching up with each other before we headed to the local laundromat.  Toting our muddy, stinky clothes in a large trash bag, I headed for the street to begin the walk to the laundromat. Becky and Julia reminded me of another modern-day convenience which I apparently had forgotten: Julia has a car. We spent a relaxing hour washing our clothes and then returned to order pizza at Julia's before heading for bed.  On tomorrow's agenda is climbing Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak (what else for a thru hiker to do on a zero day than climb a mountain), and catching a Vermont Lake Monsters minor league baseball game.  I'll ride the bus back to Wallingford the next day to get back on the trail, clothed in nylon, capilene, and wool. At least I'll be able to pass as a Laundry Comet for a few hours before trail reality sets back in.