Date: 2014-07-08
From: Unnamed Site(tenting)

To: Manchester Central (Hotel) 
Miles today: 0.0

Day 129, July 8, 2014So, my little blunder did have a pay off. I usually situate everything in a certain place in the tent but because of the rain and me just throwing the pack and dog into the tent it put a different angle on my sleeping pad. It twisted the vavle up. Alas, no air loss. SO IT WAS THE VALVE. Back when the first pad started leaking I was hesitant to call Big Agnus because I didn't know where the leak was. I did not want to seem like a shammer. Well, today when I called them I was ready with my whole story but they were really not worried. They said we got this. Give us an address at your next stop and we will send you a new pad. I also said I needed a new tent pole bag, I would pay for it, that was ripped by fair wear and tear. They threw it in. They also said I can get a rebate on the other paid. Woody, please keep it Thank you Big Agnus for standing behind your products!!!I hung up the phone and already had a confirmation from them. Wow. My Second blunder, if your gear breaks down at least call the manufacturer. I woke up early today stressing about being stealthed on the side of a mountain. But after falling back to sleep after about a half hour I went into heavy REM. CRAZY DREAMS. When I finally woke up I was sure it must be like nine or ten in the morning. It was only 730. Whew. It took much longer to pack up with all the muke and mud and wetness. I walked off the mountain to Straton Pond. It was big and beautiful. I am not sure why it is not a lake and need to Google that. Oh another AT fact, Straton Mountain is where Benton MacKey had his vision for the AT. I was there unfortunately there on a foggy day. The trail was muddier then ever with the rains. And as we walked along the ponds shore we actually had lots of water to contend with. The worst part came up to my knees. I picked TLM up by his man purse handle and he fake swam. (Never ceases to crack me up) We came to a bridge and I saw a sign that said, "Trail Closed". Crap I missed a turn. I dropped my pack and back tracked. Blue blaze!!! Uuhhhgg. Thankfully not far. So April had texted me yesterday asking where I would be. I didn't have signal yesterday so I answered her this morning asking why. She said she had some BLs. Ha. I replied saying I could be at VT 11/30 at 4 pm. It was a date. I of course was early and April of course was late. Hehe. But I didn't care. I got to the road and the guide book said there was a place called Snoopy's .5 miles to the east. I got there only to find it had been replaced with an ice cream stand that also had Mexican food. I swear!!! So I had a root beer float, two tacos amd three cokes. He also let me dry my stuff out and charge my phone. As I waited I meet lots of people. My favs were Lindsey and little Sky. Lindsay actually apologized for not living closer so she could take me home and clean and dry me up. LOL! I said not to worry my friend was enroute. My second favorite was a toothless lady who continued to talk to me even when I was on the phone with my Mom. Well, April got there and I told her how great the food was. So she got a snack and concured. I had thought the Raman Shaman had called and called back. Long story short, we ended up fetching them. Did a little resupply. Shared stories. Laughed. So, I think secretly April used bringing me BLs as a front to see Cooper. Ha! What say you? I am still in awe about how the trail brings so many adventures. Wow. Oh, I just re-read this and felt like I was missing something. I am. I forgot to mention we passed the 1600 mile mark. DAMN AHF. And thank you Aunt Val for my 1600 potato Ole with nacho cheese mile marker (and of you look really close you will see extra seasoning) Kurig and mud, Cowgirl and The Little ManHiked today: ~15 Completed: 1647.2 Remaining: 538.1 Start Point: Unnamed Site End point:Manchester Central (Hotel) States Completed: 11 GA (76.4), NC (95.5), TN (287.9), VA (550.3), WV (4), MD (40.9), PA (229.6), NJ (72.2), NY (88.4), CT (51.6), MA (90.2), States Remaining: 3 VT (149.9), NH (160.9), ME (281.4),