Date: 2003-07-30
From: West Hartford VT

To: Hanover NH
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

I woke up around 6:30 this morning, excited about getting a shower and being able to shave my legs! I was determined to get a hotel room near Hanover. We walked back to the store to eat breakfast and got on the trail around 8:20 to do the 9 something miles to Hanover. The trail was kinder to us today than yesterday but I lost the guys at the shelter, I guess. I didn't stop. I was going to town!Skies were clear and temps were about in the 80's. The last two miles or so into Hanover are all road walking, first through Norwich where Tom, our trail angel from yesterday, is from. Nice place, pretty snazzy houses through there. Then we cross the bridge into NH. I was so thrilled to have only two states left! I walked into Hanover and the trail takes us right through the Dartmouth campus. We had heard from different people how snotty and non-hiker friendly the town was. I have to disagree.I headed straight for the post office figuring I would meet the guys there. Before I got in the door, Leadfoot approaches and offers me a free lunch! He is the father of a past thru hiker named Swamp Fox who was also there. I told him I was looking for two friends. He said find them, go to Ben and Jerry's, and he would buy us all lunch. Excellent!I got my food drop but no winter gear. Not sure what went wrong. Booble didn't get his either. I got organized, saw the guys go by, flagged them down and we went to find Leadfoot. He bought us all milkshakes at B&J. Awesome. We talked with them for a while then I went to the DOC to use the computer while the guys laid on the Dartmouth green watching girls. I was glad they had entertainment so I could take my time on the computer.When I met them on the green, I got a bus schedule so we could leave Hanover and go to Wal-Mart, etc. and not have to spend our entire budget on groceries. Sweet Ass went to ask this man sitting on a bench about the bus and he offered to take us. He is a former thru hiker frome 1996! His trail name was Stray Cat, his real name is Steve. He drove us to Wal-Mart and called Super 8 to find out their rates. We said okay and he put the room in his name. Awesome! He picked us up at Wal-Mart in an hour, took us to the hotel, gave us his card in case we could work out a ride tomorrow morning, and we were set! Could their be more trail magic in one place?I am now at the hotel with my feet in the pool after a long shower. I am doing laundry in the hotel laundry because guest laundry is broken. The guy at the front desk said we could use the hotel's laundry. Fantastic. Then we are going to make spaghetti and watch TV! I already watched one Seinfeld episode. I am a happy camper.We just had spaghetti and they guys are still hungry so they are walking to McDonald's. The laundry isn't finished so Booble had to get creative. He is wearing a cowboy hat, rain jacket, shorts, and his boots with no socks. Too funny.Hanover is awesome. There are lots of friendly people there, locals are used to hikers. Tourists are not. I like the town and wouldn't mind going back. Matt left the trail today. He was doing a section from Delaware Water Gap to as far as he could go in two months. He left a month early, don't know why except he said he just felt it was time to go. Too bad. New Zealander was hiking with him but maybe he will join us now. I like him a lot as he is very funny and has a great accent. He can really put Booble and Sweet Ass in their place, too!As we get closer to Kathdin, I become more motivated. I can't wait to know what it feels like to stand on that mountain and kiss that sign!Goodnight Oscar.