Date: 2007-07-24
From: Podunk Rd

To: Etna-Hanover Center Rd - Tigger's Treehouse Hostel
Miles today: 14.3

Diesel goes to Dartmouth.It rained a little last night, but my tent was dry when I woke up at 6:00. There were about 50 slugs clinging to the outside of the tent and on my shoes which I leave out in the tent vestibule at night. I flicked them off and packed up my gear. I started hiking about 7, while Bugbite was still getting ready.The first shelter was only 2.6 miles up the trail, so I decided I would wait until I got there to get water and eat my breakfast. I passed two sobos on the way there, Stickman and Faithful. I talked to them briefly. Stickman told me they were at the next shelter, Happy Hill, last night. He said Magellan, Gadget, and a couple other nobos were there. I continued north and saw a sign that said it was one mile to the shelter. A few minutes later I saw Gadget walking towards me. I said "Gadget your going the wrong way." He laughed and then asked me how Hanover was. I looked at him and told him I hadn't been there yet and was headed there today. He said "Am I really going the wrong way?" I said "Yes". We both laughed and hiked north to the shelter together catching up on our experiences the past few days. By the way one of the gadgets that Gadget carries is a GPS attached to his shoulder strap. Gadget is finishing his section hike today and taking a bus to Boston for a few days before going home.I went into the shelter. No one was there. I got some water from the spring in my collapsible bucket and cleaned myself up a little bit and washed out my shirt away from the water source. Trying to make myself not look or smell too bad before going into Norwich, VT to resupply. Then I got filtered some water and ate breakfast. Bugbite caught up to me there.I left first to hike the 4.3 miles to Norwich. The trail comes out of the woods and follows Elm Street for about a mile into town. There are some very nice houses along this road with flowers, gardens, and well kept lawns. The sky was partly cloudy and it was about 75 degrees. I felt like I was walking into spring all over again. This was great. Then I realized by time I get home, I will have missed the long hot humid summer!I went to the general store in Norwich. I got enough food to get me to Glencliff, NH and five days worth of food to send to the state park near Franconia Notch in the White Mountains. I mailed a box of food and then Hiked a mile and a half crossing the Connecticut River to get to Hanover, NH. That's right, state number 13, New Hampshire. I hiked along the road uphill to Dartmouth College in the center of town. I went into Robinson Hall and the office of the Dartmouth Outing Club, which maintains the local trails. I used a computer to check my email and respond to a few guest book entries. Who would have ever thought I could get into an Ivy League School?I left there in search of a few items. I met Freak on a street corner. He is hiking from NY to Mt Katahdin. He had met dad back in Connecticut. I bought the things I needed and went to the post office. I received my North Face Cat's Meow 20 degree bag, so I can stay warm in the White Mountains. I swapped some items in my bounce box and forwarded it to Gorham, NH. While I was repacking, I laid my pack down and had not closed the valve on my hydration pack. The weight of the pack opened the bite valve and I turned around to find my pack sitting in a 2 liter puddle of water in the post office lobby. I got some sales papers out of the trash can to dry up the mess.I headed out of town a little before five. I hiked another six miles to A road that goes to Etna, NH where there is a general store. I called from the road to Tigger's Treehouse Hostel. It just opened this year. I was walking down the road to the general store to get a ride to the hostel when Ralph pulled up on his way to pick up Bugbite at the general store. He drove us both to his home/hostel. Widow Maker and The Beav were already there. A hot shower, laundry, and a place to sleep. Widow Maker and The Beav are staying in a motor home complete with A/C, VCR, and TV. Bugbite is in a popup camper trailer, and I am in the house on a thick air mattress. Life is good on the trail or just a couple miles off the trail. Karen got home later. Ralph said the hostel was her idea. We were discussing gear. She has an earlier version of the Pack-a-feather alcohol stove.Enough for now. It is late and I have to hike tomorrow. I hear there are a couple of hot days coming up.