Date: 2009-07-31
From: VT 14

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: moderate rain

Day 129, 9.8 miles, 8:15 am - 1 pm   It's raining again! It's never going to stop ARGHHSUEHP%#@!!! But backing up...   So we slept at this guy's garage last night. It was a little odd but not bad at all. In the morning I felt kind of homeless because I really needed to pee, and I had to exercise extreme discretion because we were in a residental area on a main road. I felt a little homeless. But, the town was cute and I was glad to have stayed there.    We had the most wonderful breakfast at the general store. I think it's the best breakfast I've had out here next to Cowboy's. The people who work in the store are extremely friendly. Oh, how cold, rude, and standoffish New Englanders are!! Anyway, we had scrambled eggs, homefries, real wheat toast with real butter, and lots of hot coffee. I love finding places like that!    Of course, by the time we finished eating, the rain started coming down in earnest. I contemplated going back in and ordering another breakfast, trying to stay in the garage again, anything but go back out into another depressing day of rain. I was in a horrible mood, probably the worst mood I've been on the entire trail. I was taking one step forward and two steps backward as I climbed up the slippery muck trail in downpouring rain and darkness. Eventually I started crying and I started yelling at Matt, telling him how much I hate the AT. After a few more minutes went by I was soaked to the bone and I felt better by venting, and I settled into hiking the 10 miles into town. Luckily we had a huge breakfast, we didn't stop even once, we just went nonstop until we got there.    So, we walked 10 flooded miles into town. Norwich was very ritzy and interesting, with lots of 18-19 century houses. The crossing into NH was very busy, the trail went under an interstate highway, but despite that and the weather I was kind of happy. Only 2 more states to go!    Hanover is the busiest, richest place we've walked through. There are no fat people here, for one thing, and no one seems to drive a late model car. Anyway, we dumped our stuff at Dartmouth OC and set upon chores. Hanover is kind of spread out, I think I walked another 10 miles around town today trying to get resupplied, go to the post office, and fetch our stuff again.    So I wasn't planning on staying in town today, but truthfully going back out into the rain and camping was possibly the last thing I wanted to do. I would rather have more dental surgery. At least you get a prescription for painkillers when you do that. Luckily Way asked me if we would like to share a room with them. I think she saved our hike. The motel in town is a little steep for one but split it worked perfectly. So here we are, another unplanned town stop. That's just fine. Right now there is nothing I want more than to be clean, dry, and indoors.    We are carrying 6 days worth of food, and I got my winter gear and the rest of my rain gear back today. And a set of New Hampshire maps and a new journal. My pack is SOO heavy! I took extra advil to keep up.    Motor emailed me back, he is now a full 7 days ahead of us. I would like to catch up with him but that is basically impossible, he hikes much faster than we, meaning I, do. * * *Vickie (Way) really saved my sanity that day. I was sitting in the DOC, soaking wet, very depressed and almost on the edge of insanity about going back out into the rain, when she asked me if I would like to split a room with her and Tim. That was so, so nice of them, I really couldn't be more thankful that she offered that as I really couldn't afford the rate by myself. It worked out great, they are really nice and easygoing people. It was funny, actually, because the place was sold out that night, because all the rooms were taken up by thruhikers! I don't think anyone wanted to go out into the weather, although no one planned on staying in Hanover to begin with (I am pretty sure that Will and Way weren't originally intending to stay there, either) sometimes you just have to do what's good for you. It's a long trail. Thank you Vickie and Tim!    Here are some stats for Vermont, based on a 150.6 mile section:It took us 13 days to complete VT, for an average of 11.6 miles per dayWe averaged 12.6 miles per hiking dayWe took:1 zero day2 days less than 5 miles4 days 10 or less miles (6 total)If you remove our 0, 2.5, and 2.9 mile days, for a 145.2 mile section, we otherwise hiked 14.5 miles per dayYes, I don't have to go to work today, or else I wouldn't have time to calculate useless things like that...