Date: 2002-10-15
From: Clarendon Shelter, VT

To: Big Branch Shelter, VT
Miles today: 16.4

Today is my 34th birthday! The morning greeted us in the Clarendon Shelter with frigid cold temperatures. No time was wasted worrying about the shock of leaping out of our warm cocoons into the cold because just a mile down the trail and another mile up the road the Whistle Stop Caf© was waiting with tasty breakfasts and hot cups of coffee. I was third to get up and I said a quick good morning and happy trails to the north bounder as I started hiking with a cereal bar in my hand. The fields along road were heavily frosted. It was cold but the skies were still blue. Gandhi and Otter had already sat down inside the Caf© and I stashed my pack and sat down with them. It was about 7am and besides us there were only a few locals at the counter. The waitress brought us coffee and took our orders. Gandhi treated me for my birthday by picking up the tab. After breakfast we went out onto the Caf©¢s deck to organize our packs a bit and get some water from an outside tap. The waitress had said we could use the outside restroom for water if we wanted but the toilet had half an inch of ice in the bowl. I warned Otter and Gandhi not to use these facilities. We had to get water from the inside bathroom. Down the street we all visited the Clarendon Store. Otter was resupplying and Gandhi was calling some friends in the area he was going to visit with today. I wouldn¢t see Gandhi again after the store but I¢m sure he had a great time and finished his hike. I bought some less than memorable snacks and drinks at the store along with a couple dozen Atomic Fireballs my new favorite trail sweet. I used the phone to make a call or two but found no one home talk to.       The great walking weather dominated the skies again today, cool and dry. The foliage was vivid and the miles flowed by effortlessly. The top of Whiterocks Mountain near the trail to the cliffs has been the site of expansive collection of rock Cairns for at least the past two years. I first saw it 14 months ago when it was a 12-foot diameter circle of Cairns and rock pile art. Since then it has expanded yards outside the circle and the piles have become more complicated and elaborate. Arches are the big things now. It seems to be getting a bit out of control. All the loose rock has been used up and a few places where rocks had been quarried were obvious. Its still an interesting site. I wonder how long it will last?      I caught up with Otter at the Lula Tye Shelter where he was having an early dinner before moving on The Big Branch Shelter. I stopped for a snack and then hiked ahead. I got the empty shelter with enough light to cook. Tonight its my new trail dinner: Hamburger Helper prepared with dried ground turkey. The turkey goes into the water when its put on the stove to start re-hydrating and since the meat is already cooked the meal cooking time is only seven minutes: the time it takes to cook the pasta. It usually comes out pretty good but it¢s a big calorie meal: about 1500 and it weighs about 15 oz when dry. Otter arrived as it got dark and after settling in he continued eating from his new bags of groceries. My birthday cake was a Hostess powdered donut and it was truly a great way to end a great birthday.