Date: 2018-07-09
From: Manchester Center

To: Manchester Center
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Next Step and I had set our alarms for 0645 even though it was a zero day. The night before, we had told the other hikers staying in the hostel that we would make some sausage, bacon, grits and fruit salad to go with the pancakes for breakfast. Unfortunately, one of the hikers missed the memo, and had already gotten up and made a bunch of pancakes by the time we got down to the kitchen and most everyone had already eaten. We cooked most of it up anyway and fed a few late risers. Nearly all of the other hikers had gotten back to the trail by 0830 but we hung around so Next Step could finish the journal entry. We weren¢t sure when we would be able to check into the Palmer House, where we planned to spend the night. We really enjoyed our stay at Green Mountain House, especially chatting with Jeff, the owner, and the other hikers. Fortunately when we arrived at the Palmer House, our room was ready for an early check in. This is a beautiful mountain resort complete with croquet, and other lawn games, a pool, a nine hole golf course and even a stocked trout pond for fishing! What an amazing place to spend on our Zero day! We got most of our stuff unloaded and then headed back to town for some delicious tacos. We walked around Manchester Center for a bit and found Next Step a new, smaller cook pot at the local outfitters. Of course by then, Next Step was ready for ice cream so we made a beeline to the nearest Ben & Jerry¢s. The foursome right in front of us was ordering the ¢Vermonster¢ which was literally a gallon size bucket filled with ice cream, waffle cones, chocolate sauce, berries, whipping cream and nuts for $40. If I had still been hiking I definitely think Next Step and I could have easily polished off one of those!!! Next stop was the grocery store to get a few resupply items and then over to the post office to grab a couple of boxes. We went back to the motel and were thinking about a nap, but the shuffle board court was calling our name. Next Step schooled me, but it is a game for the elderly, so that wasn¢t surprising. Lol We found some Adirondack chairs in the shade and just relaxed for a couple of hours. It¢s really hard to beat the summertime in Vermont on a day like today - perfect temperatures and a gentle breeze to cure what ails you! However, after also losing at Ladder Ball, Corn Hole and Croquet, I¢m thinking I might need to change the title of today¢s journal entry!!! If Next Step is trying to get me to hang out with him a bit longer, he has a terrible way of showing it!! LolWe had to sort through med boxes, food boxes and bounce boxes to figure out what I am mailing on up the trail and what is going back to KY with me. When we looked up and it was already after 1900! Yikes! Better get to supper as hiker midnight was fast approaching! I¢m definitely feeling more at peace as I prepare for my trip back home tomorrow. This just wasn¢t my time to do the entire trail. But I would rather have tried and not have finished than to not have tried at all. Some things are just beyond our control and I wouldn¢t trade anything for this journey with my Next Step. HugsWhich WayElevation Data: n/aWeather:Day - 85 / SunnyNight - 58 / ClearOver The Horizon: Killington Peak, VT