Date: 2016-07-16
From: Green Mountain Hostel

To: Lost Pond Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: few clouds

7/16/16 - Lost Pond Shelter - Mile 1665.5 - Tent:We all weighed our packs this morning before we departed. With 4 days of food and 2 liters of water mine weighed in at 38 lbs. Wow that's heavier than I'd like. I can't even imagine what else I could get rid of! I use everything! I use a tent stake for a trowel! A contact case for neosporin and suntan lotion! I sent the brain of my pack home! What am I doing wrong? Granted, I've gained a pound and probably have 15 pounds of food. Hmm.Jeff, owner of the Green Mountain Hostel dropped us off this morning back at the trailhead. Great guy. Radar and I seem to have formed a bond... Or an agreement... Or an understanding. And we're just vibing it cause we've got similar senses of humor. It's been a lot of fun and the miles come faster.We went up to the top of Bromley Mountain, which is a skiing resort in the winter. It had beautiful wildflowers and nice 360 degree panoramic views. I started walking over to the chairlift that was running but blocked off with a rope, and a guy inside the little chairlift booth sort of leaned forward into view like "don't even think about it". Whoops! I was just looking... I swear...We lunched at Styles Peak with a very excellent view and met 3 southbounders named Rooster, Sonic (she had blue hair) and Woodchuck. They told us about doing work for stay at the huts in the Whites and we told them whatever they wanted to know about the 1600 miles ahead of them. El Auto & Chilipepper showed up and joined in on the shenanigans. I was joking about shortening words for fun, like you do, and El Auto had pepperonis and tuna on bagels. And added Sriracha sauce to it. So as I was packing up and leaving I observed this and said "Look at that! Good peps, toons & bagues!" To which he replied "Sirach me bro!" Then I started saying Rach me bro with a Jamaican accent, and now it's become a reggae song that I sing. So there's what hanging out with me is like.We were discussing how difficult it is to explain Rob Bird to people. "Yeah you know he's an older gentleman with a white van who you may have to share a bed with, and demands a kiss on the cheek from you if you say thank you. It's totally fine." Ha!So today I crashed and burned on the trail hard. I stumbled on a rock, tried to catch myself and stumbled on a second rock. At this point I had a lot of forward momentum and just smashed into the ground and rocks. My face even got some contact, my elbow helped break the fall as well as a smart water bottle, but my leg got cut up pretty bad. It bled a lot and Radar tried not to laugh too hard. But that was only fair, as he had slipped and flew to the side onto his butt today earlier and I had a good laugh. It looked like a ghost just pushed him to the right. But me falling... I wish I could have seen it from his view. Turning around and seeing my face down on the trail! Classic! I did laugh a bit, hesitated to determine how bad it was, and then continued laughing. Falling is funny, people. Ya know, until it isn't. I wish I had shaved legs so when I tear this giant bandage off it wouldn't be like pulling weeds out of my meat.Only did 15 today, as I was pretty done after the fall, and had dinner with Radar, El Auto, Chilipepper, Shoe showed up, Aquaman and his mom, Sharky, Dr G. And Doc. Good laughs and now the sweet relief of bed.