Date: 2009-08-03
From: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH - Trail Mile 441.8

To: Velvet Rocks Shelter - Trail Mile 440.3
Miles today: 1.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 44[Watson & Holmes sent: "Safe. At Velvet Rocks Shelter."Her journal entry:]Velvet Rocks ShelterI'm trying to stop saying I got a late start, but this time I really did. It was 9 am before I was up, and 11 am before I called a cab to get Into Hanover. I went to CVS for dog food, alcohol wipes (used a lot to clean and dry the wet / peeling skin between my toes - thank you, Vermont, for causing my Merrells to disintegrate! see pictures taken on 8/7/09,) and some other items. Side note - H is getting better, but still needs to be muzzled when I go into a store so he doesn't make too much noise. Everyone in CVS thinks he's adorable, but there's always one know-it-all who accuses me of trying to kill my dog by leaving him muzzled too long in 'this heat' (70 degrees, and he's in the shade!). It's rather annoying. Anyway, we're off to the PO next for a mail-drop resupply and have a good time chatting with Tord, Veggie Steve, and random passers-by as we sort through the delicious meals Dad has prepared and enjoy some canned mandarin orange segments. This reminds us, though, that it's almost lunchtime. Since we somehow managed to get through Vermont (the birthplace of Ben&Jerry's) without going to a scoop shop, I decide to rectify this immediately. H sits out front and behaves pretty well with only threats of being muzzled given through the big glass window. He seems to do better when he can still see me. I get an amazing milkshake concoction of I don't know what, but it has lots of brownie and fudge and chocolate and a bit of coffee flavor. It's delicious. Feeling, though, that this might be just a little too much like dessert, I get some chips and guacamole from the Mexican place next door (been craving Mexican!) as 'real food'. I enjoy my meal on the bench out front while H eats his nibble and naps. Lots of people stop by to ask about hiking with a dog - this is a really friendly town! I get some emails done, then try to download elevation profiles for the AT through the White Mountains, but soon realize I'll need a faster connection and will have to do some editing to make them fit on the iPhone, so I plan to head to the library next. I see DZ&S&C walking down the street, having just had Indian buffet. I like my lunch better. We chat a bit and I mention the massive amounts of dark chocolate in my latest resupply, so they will pick up marshmallows and grahams on their way out of town. At this point, we've all taken a long time to get out errands done, and enjoyed the much-needed rest-day (and toe-drying day!), so we plan to camp together at the Velvet Rocks shelter just outside of town. I take an half an hour at the library and then just sit enjoying the sun for a while. H makes some new friends in kids from town waiting outside while their mom is browsing books inside. Finally we head out to the shelter. We again run into DZ&S&C on their way to the grocery store. Trail Drama abounds (see tomorrow's entry), but everyone gets along for now. We reconfirm plans for S'Mores at the shelter, and H & I head off. It's a short hike to the shelter, so I do it in my crocs. Feels nice!43° 42' 8.13" N 72° 15' 54.38" W, 997 ftFor HarveysMom by Harvey's GrandPop