Date: 2014-08-05
From: Winturri Shelter, Mile 1716.9

To: Elm St, Norwich VT, Mile 1740.7
Miles today: 23.8

I had three options for getting more food today. The first was the On the Edge Farm about three miles down the trail, but I knew they wouldn't be open yet when I went by. The second was the Cloudland Market a quarter mile down a road about nine miles into my day. It's part of a family farm that my AT Guide said is closed on Sunday and Monday, but today's Tuesday! The third was the West Hartford Village Store, which includes a deli and the town post office about 16 miles into my day.As I approached the road to the Cloudland Market about noon, I met Martha and her dog Tippy who were on a day hike. We chatted a bit, then she continued on her hike while I headed up to the market. It was a warm sunny hike uphill on a paved road, but I was rewarded at the top by the farm being closed with no one around! There had been a sign at the trail head about their being open and having sandwiches on Saturday afternoon, so I guess they don't have regular hours. I had a couple of bars left in my pack and some trail magic of some cookies and an orange soda, so that will have to get me to West Hartford.I soon caught up with Martha and we hiked and chatted together to the next road crossing where she was going to turn around and return to her car. She asked where I was staying tonight and she knows Short 'n Sweet and Greybeard. Her daughter Helen was a good high school friend of their son The Brain. When we got to the road crossing, Roots was there with her car supporting Uphill. Another thru hiker was taking a zero with Roots while she waited for some new shoes to arrive. I can't remember her name, so I'll call her Smiles 'cause she seemed very upbeat and always had a great smile. I got their picture, a bottle of water and a small bag of chips! Martha, Uphill, Smiles and RootsAs I finally approached West Hartford, I passed several Sobos who all told me about the major trail magic going on in West Hartford. When I got to the town, I met Uphill, Roots and Smiles by their car in front of the village store, where Uphill was ending his day. The store was closed for the year! Not to worry though, there was major trail magic just a few houses further up the street.As they drove off, I hiked on up the street - nobody at that house, or that house, or that house... Apparently the trail magic had closed down just before I got there! Further up the street I did chat with an older guy outside his house that was an old school house built in the 1800s. He had converted it into to his home over the past 40 years. Very nice guy, but no food!So, off to Norwich! I did come across a few more cookies left on the trail as trail magic to keep me going. I also checked email and saw one from Short 'n Sweet warning me that the store in West Hartford was closed this year!Short 'n Sweet and Greybeard live right on the AT as it enters Norwich. Their son, The Brain, thru hiked the AT several years ago. While in the Smokies, a blister on his foot got infected and some day hikers took him into their home for several days while he recovered. Short 'n Sweet and Greybeard were moved to "pay it forward" and started opening up their home to thru hikers. I don't know how hikers get connected with them, Tic was my connection, but I think they said they housed about 170 hikers last year. Talk about paying it forward! They also leave a cooler with trail magic outside on the road for passing hikers.I was the first hiker to arrive, and Short 'n Sweet directed me immediately to the shower to get cleaned up. Since I hadn't eaten she invited me to have dinner with them. Later, Sobos Goosechase and Apple Pie arrived and Nobo Packrat. They had already eaten dinner so after their showers they went down to the basement and watched movies while I enjoyed a wonderful dinner and conversation with Short 'n Sweet, Greybeard, their just-out-of-college daughter Mox and her friend Will. Good folks, all! :-) After dinner I joined the other hikers in the basement where Greybeard had set up blow-up mattresses. Short 'n Sweet told us all the story of the folks in NC helping their son, and encouraged us all to pay it forward, too. A very nice ending to a hungry day!