Date: 2003-07-30
From: Chateauguay Road 

To: Thistle Hill Road 
Miles today: 16.8

I must not be in shape yet. Today was another hard day. I feel good now, after surviving it, but at times during the day, I was huffing and puffing. I just kept on putting one foot in front of the other, and when I got to the tops of the hills, I felt great! I had conquered! Then the next hill comes along... redo the whole process.This morning, we seemed to be in slow motion. We didn't hit the trail until 9am, and stopped for a long break at The Lookout. It is an observation platform on top of a privately owned cabin. What a view! I could see Killington, and all of it's ski trails, and to the east, I could see some very big mountains, but I don't know that they were the Whites. It was a tad hazy, but a beautiful day!About a half mile from The Lookout, we met two SOBOs, taking a break. They said "Do you like root beer?" There were two cans of Barq's on the ground with a note: "For Hikers (please take empties)". So, we sat down, chatted with Breeze and Rooster, and drank root beer.About a mile and a half after that, we came to Winturri Shelter, and stopped to get water, use the privy, and chat with whoever was there. There were 3 SOBOs, and 5 NOBOs there (Hotdog, me, Notes, Puff Puff and Snappy). It was after noon, but we decided to go on to a road (VT12) before having lunch.The trail from the shelter to the road was supposed to be a gradual downhill. It was far from that! It was steep downhill, steep uphill, gradual uphill, gradual downhill. (sigh) I had lunch break on my mind, so I just kept plugging away. On the way to the road, we met a lady who is helping her husband finish the AT, which he started a couple of years ago. She has completed the AT. We first met them several days ago. She told us that, since she leaves the truck at trail crossings so often, she might as well buy a cooler and put some cold drinks in it for hikers. She left one at VT12! What a sight that was! Ice cold iced tea, and some snacks too! Perfect to go with lunch! We sat there for a while, eating lunch and relaxing. And most importantly, putting off a steep climb. Finally, we had to go on.Several SOBOs and Kinnickinic had warned us of some bees that had a hive under a bog bridge. Several hikers had been stung, and one SOBO, Junkie, gave us specific location, and told us to just run across the bog bridges. When I got there, I did just that. Only, I couldn't remember exactly which set he said were the dangerous ones, so I hurried across all of them. It felt weird to run! Especially with a pack on. But it worked out well, as I didn't even hear a bee. I don't wanna mess around with them. I don't like them.Finally, about a half hour earlier than expected, I got to this shelter, and found only two others here, Notes and Flip (who was at Cooper Lodge on Killington the night I was). Just four of us here now, which is surprising to me, since shelters have been pretty full lately. And no SOBOs here, surprising as well. Breeze said she saw 23 NOBOs yesterday. Wow! So it sounds like there is a big group in front of me. Of course, I've heard that before, and not found myself in the middle of them.Tomorrow, if all goes as planned, I leave Vermont and go into New Hampshire. I am excited about that, but feel that I have overlooked Vermont a bit. I had thought Vermont was going to have more views or more mountains, or something. I did have some awesome views, just not as many as I expected. I must say though, Vermont has some wonderful forests! They are very pretty! Pine forest, birch forest, mixed forest, and very green. It really is a pretty place. I am just looking forward the big mountains again.I passed the 1700-mile mark today! Yaaaay! Actually, I am more interested in the 'miles remaining'. I hope that doesn't sound pessimistic. I am proud of what I've done, and where I've gone, how far I've walked, But I am looking forward to the end of this adventure. I don't mean to rush it, and I don't think I am, but I believe I will be ready for the end, when it comes.