Date: 2014-07-09
From: Aspen Motel via Stratton-Arlington Rd

To: Zero Day 10: Manchester Center, VT 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Today was a tough day for Big Dawg and myself - unfortunately he is not able to continue on the trail right now and he will be leaving tomorrow to head back home to rest. Things are going to be odd for a bit until he can return.We both slept in a little bit since we have been getting up early every day and it just tires you out! Enjoyed a trail breakfast at the hotel and sat outside until it was time to catch the bus to Bennington - the hotel owner was very nice and let us leave our packs in one of the rooms while we went out to town. Now we do not have to mess around moving them all day!We caught the bus at the Manchester Town Hall and sat back for the ride to Bennington - it is definitely a very inexpensive and effective way to move around town! It only took about 30 minutes to get into Bennington and the bus system was set up with all the routes so we could resupply and go to the hospital all before catching a bus back to Manchester!The first bit of bad news came while waiting for the bus to take us to Bennington - Big Dawg called the hospital in Williamstown that had done a tick panel on his blood to see if he had Lyme disease. I do not know why they didn't call sooner but he tested positive for Lyme! Explains a lot of the tiredness and fatigue he has been feeling the past week or two - now we had to pick up a prescription for the medication in Manchester.In Bennington I rode the bus to the hospital with Big Dawg and when he got into their system I left to catch another bus to pick up some supplies. It went pretty smoothly until right before the bus to Manchester was set to head back. First the backup phone had no charge so even though we filled it up I could not call Big Dawg. Then the Blue Line bus to the hospital left the station late and did not even pick him up at the bus station! Luckily he caught the driver a little further down and hopped on the bus. Since the Blue Line was running late the bus back to Manchester was getting delayed but thankfully he held the bus for us and we picked Big Dawg up on a road on the route back. What a mess!Hospital results: torn tendon in the right foot. Unspecified recovery time but we are hoping he is only out for two weeks so I can meet up with him for the Whites in NH. Fingers crossed that it heals and the Lyme disease goes away!We got back to the Town Hall and the owner of the Aspen Motel took us to the Rite Aid to pick up the prescription - very kind of him to do that! Since we had not eaten lunch we decided to eat in town before going to the hostel. I went to the Mountain Goat Outfitter to pick up a fuel can. Along the way I stopped by this older couple taking pictures and pointing in the window - turns out there was an adorable kitten playing with a notepad on a table in the store! So cute!I stopped by the store on the way back and talked with the owner Steve. He runs Circa 50 (the store) ans he rescues feral cats and redomesticates them so they can be adopted by local families - he is doing a great thing helping those cats get better lives! He recently rescued a momma cat who gave birth to seven little kittens - all of which were roaming around the store! It was one of the most unique sites on the trail and it was very very adorable - who can resist kittens?!Ate at Gringo Jack's near the Rite Aid and after a good meal called Jeff (the hostel owner) so he could pick us up. What a very interesting and great host! He came and picked us up and was very talkative and friendly on the way to the hostel. He also has one of the best hostel setups we have seen so far. The hikers stay in a separate house with two private rooms and a bunkroom upstairs with free laundry and showers. The downstairs is a kitchen area with free breakfast food and a free pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream that connects to a hiker lounge with a nice TV and communal computer - what a great place!And boy it was full of thru-hikers tonight! Old friends including Chocolate, Cheese, Sharp Knife, and Hiccup. Also a very old friend in Tatiana - the last time we saw her was in early NC! She was no longer hiking with Wildlife but she was doing well. Also ran into Phys Ed - he was the guy working at AT Museum while we were at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. I had forgotten he was returning to the trail this year! Also met some new people including the female Prom Queen, Pilot, and Navigator.A busy night trying to make sure I had everything I needed to continue on and we had to get Big Dawg set up on the bus and train to home - going to miss him dearly while he is gone. Even though we have had some snippy times on the trail he has always been my hiking buddy on the trail and it is going to be odd without him! Here's to a speedy recovery!