Date: 2012-07-01
From: Hanover

To: Columbus
Miles today: 3.0

I'm off the trail and back home as of this writing (7/5, storm damages in the area took out my cable for a few days) but writing as though it were Sunday, 7/1). I got my dates and timing wrong on the last entry.Yesterday was Saturday the 30th, a full day off in Hanover, NH. I had to switch hotels so went from Chieftan, a couple miles north of town, to the Sunset Motel a couple miles south of town. Lodging in town is very expensive. It worked out just fine, I enjoyed the downtown area of Hanover, Dartmouth College, and a long lunch in a friendly tavern/restaurant called Molly's. I sat on a high stool in a window with a view of the street and people walking with latte's in hand. Lovely town, and people were especially friendly to hikers. All the New England towns/villages we visited were very, very nice, and hiker friendly.Anyway, as I said Friday, I made it into Hanover and met up with my friend Franklin. We hadn't seen each other since '08. We had a great visit and dinner out, and he showed me a slide show of his hike in '08. He made it all the way up to about 150 miles south of the northern terminus where he fell and dislocated the shoulder. He had to pop it back into place. Ouch! Well, he was done, and was able to get off the trail and back home. Surgery later, and rehab, and he finished the 150 the next year. It was great to visit and see you Franklin. Thanks for running me around the area and shwoing me the sites and some of what Irene had done to the landscape.Spent Saturday as mentioned above with most of the day in Hanover at the library and Molly's. Sunday morning, as planned, I began southboud hiking out of Hanover to catch up on the missed 10 miles coming in. About first 3 miles were road walking but on the trail over the CT River, inder I-91, into Norwich CT where the trail went up a steep, side blacktop road and dumped back into the woods. Entering the woods for 15 minutes or so hiking, I realize I was litterally exhausted with every step a physical effort. Although my sore leg was noticeable but not a real problem, I was just worn out. Stopped, just stood there for a few minutes, and decided not to go on. I returned to Hanover with thoughts of heading for home. Glad I did, I was beat, just caught a cold, and had lost the desire to go on, just couldn't take another step uphill.I worked it out to clean up a bit, got on a computer and made flght reservations from Boston to Columbus with a comfortable bus ride from Hanover to Logan airport, Boston. I can see why people flock to New England in the Fall as the mountains go on forever and I can only imagine the colors of the changing seasons. Got home about 10 pm and retired almost right away. Was kind of in a daze on Monday and Tuesday and mostly slept with trying to medicate a very sore throat. The leg soreness dissapated but still needed to test it out, see what was up. Power was out in many homes in my neighborhood due to Friday night storm but not mine, although I lost phone, cable and internet until the 4th.So, I"ve been asked if I'm going to return maybe in August after a good long rest. I don't think so. I consider this year's hike a success although not reaching the end of the trail. Frist goal was to get to Hanover, and I essentiall did minus about 7 miles, I hike about 251 miles in all, from Salisbury CT to Hanover, NH> How have a couple miles to make up in VT plus all of NH and ME to complete. I will be there next year and we (Don and I) will be a year wiser to manage the trail here in our senior years. Don emailed some pals with the comment the trail is "no place for old men". By the way, Don got off back in Manchester Center, VT. He has a torn miniscus and will be rehabbing for a while before he's evaluated for surgical repair.All is well. I've lost a bunch of weight and plan on keeping it off with some serious controls over food and drink. I walked the park yesterday, 4.1 miles (flat and hot!), and hope to get to the gym later today. Will carefully work back into my routines.Thanks to everyone rooting me on and for your prayers. I'm fine and it is good to be home. Send me a note via regular email. I'd like that. Thanks again.