Date: 2017-06-05
To: prep for MA to VT trek
Miles today: 0.0

This trek I am hiking by myself, from Tyringham MA to Rutland/Killington VT, a 14+ hour drive from my house.  My husband was very supportive with dropping me off at the trail, food drops and picking me up from the trail closer to our home in NC.  North of Shenandoah, I was on my own.  I really can't blame him for not wanting to drive 14+ hours in traffic which he absolutely hates, just to drop me off at a trail head.  On Monday June 5, I started my drive toward Greenwood Lodge in Bennington VT.  I was not sure where I would stop over night.  As I was driving in PA, I saw the exit for Hamburg PA and decided to stop there.  In July of 2016, Coyote and I spent the night at the Microtel there two nights.  I checked in and asked if there were any AT hikers staying there.  The woman hesitated and I thought she thought I might be one of those trouble maker AT hikers.  I told her I won't cause you any trouble.  She said, "I know.  I can pick them out."  Apparently I do not look like a trouble maker, but instead as a calm 50+ year old woman.  She mentioned First Aid was staying there.  I looked in the adjacent bar but did not see any hikers.  I ate dinner at Logans for the fourth time.  Twice with Coyote in July 2016 and once with Again a month prior.  I like their steak and potatoes.  On June 6, in the morning, I went down for the free breakfast, looking for AT hikers.  I walked up to two men who looked like AT hikers and said I was looking for AT hikers.  Changer (?) said I found some.  The other hiker was First Aid with his dog Charlie.  First Aid and Changer were south bounders.  First Aid and Charlie hiked with Dori for about a month last fall before he came off the trail.  I met Dori at Pinkham Notch in NH in Aug 2016.  She was a south bounder who finished her thru hike June 1 2017.  I gave them a ride to the trail.  I drove to Greenwood Lodge in Bennington VT.  I made reservations while I was at home a week prior.  They emailed me their registration form and requested when I would arrive.  They preferred no late arrivals.  I emailed I would be there at 6 pm.  I arrived at 4 pm after driving two days in the rain.  The pond and the local streams were full.  Kay, trail name Whale, was staying here also.  I was given my own room, since they were not full and Kay had her pack exploded over her room.  Kay expressed her dissatisfaction with her stay to me and the owners expressed their dissatisfaction with her to me.  Why do I seem to get in these mediator positions?  I did not jump into the role, nor did I throw Kay under the bus.  Kay left her dinner on the communal stove, while she sat on her bed upstairs.  She left her toothbrush in the communal bathroom.  We chatted.  She wondered if we could hike together.  I explained I was starting in Tyringham MA, about a week south, a section she has already done.  She asked me to write in the shelter registers.  I explained she will always be a week or more ahead of me.  She will not see my entries.  I had arranged with Sandra to shuttle me at 6:30 am from Green Mountain House hostel to Tyringham MA.  She had a meeting at 10:30 am that she needed to attend.  I woke to my alarm and had every minute planned.  After getting dressed, eating breakfast and packing my car, I said goodbye to the Lodge owner's daughter.  Kay was in the kitchen.  I said my goodbye.  With my car started, Kay, standing in her pajamas, motioned for me to roll down my window.  If she packed up all her stuff in 5 minutes, could she ride with me to Green Mountain House hostel?  My face fell.  She said that is a no and I nodded my head.  I was concerned with being late.  I drove off, added to Kay's list of people who did not help her when she requested.  I am sure I have lots of company.