Date: 2009-06-25
From: Shire Inn, Woodstock, VT

To: Happy Hill Shelter
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Thu Jun 25, Day 107. [This is Ron's post] Dropped Spokes and Hot Wheels off at the trailhead and saw them off at 0653 this morning. Here's a video of the saddle up and departure:We hated to see them go. Ricky and I posed for one last picture with Spokes. It's amazing how this thru-hiking culture rubs off on you! Spokes with Ricky and Ron, aka Shock and Awe, click on picture to see full size.They plan to hike almost 17 miles today to reach the Happy Hill Shelter.Transcriber's Disclaimer: All of these pictures were taken in Vermont. No one was ever close to Argentina. Our Spanish isn't all that fluent, anyway... There is NO ONE here from Argentina!Wondering where the name Shock and Awe II originated?Click here to see the video from Shock and Awe I[Post from Spokes] If you have been following the journal you know that three days ago my buddies Ron and Ricky, also known as Shock and Awe, tracked me down on the Appalachian Trail in Vermont at the Clarendon Shelter. I¢m sitting there transferring some water and all of a sudden I hear this familiar voice and I look up and there they were. I was stunned, completely taken off guard. It was such a marvelous surprise, I just can't explain the feeling. They did a wonderful job flying into Burlington, renting a car, finding the trailhead, and hiking a mile of pretty treacherous trail to the shelter to show up. They informed me that they wanted to tag along and experience what the AT is all about. Of course I told Ron ¢Listen, we¢re going to carry our full packs and you guys can tag along, no problem. Come on, let¢s do it.¢ No yellow blazing or blue blazing here, folks.They swapped off, one would hike and the other would drive the car around to the next road crossing. On Tuesday Ron hiked the first 4 miles and the last 4 while Ricky took the middle 12. On Wednesday Ron took the first 11 and Ricky finished up with the last 9. They really got a sense for what hiking the AT up in this part of the country is all about. The look on those two fellows¢ faces said it all. They were having a great time, cutting up, taking so much video and pictures along the way. Ron and Ricky are doing a fantastic job, getting everything on the web as quickly as they can each night when we finish hiking. The videos have exploded. There are 56 on the journal now and more to come. The picture count has increased dramatically too thanks to Shock and Awe. Last night we left the trail where it crosses VT12 and drove the four miles into Woodstock, VT where we stayed at the Shire Inn. Beautiful little motel by the river. Woodstock is a quaint little New England town, even was selected by a travel magazine as the Prettiest Small Town in America. We had a great dinner at the Pizza Chef. This morning we got up early, hit a breakfast place, and then they drove us back to the trail head where we said our goodbyes, took a little bit more video, and took pictures. A very fitting thing happened there at the end of their visit. Here I go, after saying goodbyes, start to walk down the trail. What do I do? I turn back ¢ headed Southbound! Immediately I hear those two guys ¢Hey, hey, hold on, where you going? Get back on the trail, you¢re headed North ¢ go North!¢ Just like in life, that¢s what good friends do. They get you on the right path and they are there for support, no matter what. I¢m just so fortunate to have friends like that. Thank you, Ron and Ricky, for doing what you did. It just means so much, I can¢t describe it. We¢ll get together after I get back and have some more good times, that¢s for certain. To everyone, thanks for all the comments that you¢ve been posting. I¢ve been reading every one of them, trying to respond as best I can. Thanks for making the hit count climb way up there. I¢m just blown away by all the support that you guys have given me. I hope you are enjoying everything that is being posted, especially the crazy videos lately. New Hampshire looms ahead. We should be in Hanover tomorrow and then on to tackle the Whites. We are going to put a dent in New Hampshire and head to Maine and get this hike over with and touch that sign on the top of The Greatest Mountain - Mt. Katahdin. Click here for audio journal