Date: 2004-09-03
From: Bennington

To: Melvin Nauheim Lean-to
Miles today: 1.7

Greetings! I write to you after a short, but very productive day. As I write my stomach is calming and my mind is at ease. Today I did not hike much, but I rested my weary body and came up with a plan. Now I¢m cuddled up in the shelter to write this journal before bed. I awoke before 7 a.m. at Larry¢s Cottage. My stomach was yet again upset with me. After a few trips to the bathroom I joined Larry in the kitchen. As I walked in he handed me some coffee and he began to make scrambled eggs. The breakfast was great! Shortly thereafter I packed up, visited the bathroom once more, and headed to the car. It was 8 a.m. On the way to the trail we stopped at a country store and I used my change for a can of coke (Yay!) Five minutes later I was dropped off at the trailhead. In my conversation with my sister yesterday she informed me that she could A) send me some money in Killington and B) return gear to REI for me this weekend. I told her I would mail her the information she needed. This meant a third trip into Bennington would be needed. First however, I sat (in the privy :-( ) and planned out the end of my trip. After what was essentially a zero today my plan is as follows:-        5 days to Killington (90 miles); spend night at hostel, no zero-        5 days to Glencliff (89 miles); take a zero day. BEGIN WHITES :-) -        7 days to Gorham (101.5 miles); spend night at a hostel, no zero -        3 days to Andover (41.4 miles); take a zero at ¢The Cabin¢ (hostel)-        5 days to Stratton (68.7 miles); spend night at a cheap motel-        5 days to Monson (70.0 miles); take a zero at a hostel -        6 days to the base of Katahdin (arrive 10/12) ¢ (112.6 miles)-        Summit 10/13 ¢ 10/15) if weather is clear.While the plan above may be boring, I was very excited to see that finishing in time is still possible without killing myself. Usually I shun plans in order to have spontaneous fun, but I am nearing a deadline. My plan does not factor in weather (gulp) or injury/sickness (double gulp), but it seems to me to be a good guideline. It would involve me hiking more seriously (only 3 zeros) than I have at any point on this trip. Still, it is very doable. I would get a zero after every 10 hiking days and I would get to average about 14 miles per day in the Whites. The White Mountains are known to be extremely difficult and beautiful at the same time. As I finished my plan I felt a calm sense of hope and satisfaction. On my 3rd hitch into Bennington I waited for near a half hour when who pulls over but Larry. I joked with Larry that I did ¢REALLY¢ hike the AT but that I was wrapping up phone/e-mails. He laughed and drove me to the library. Larry is awesome! At the library I sent the information my sister needed, along with some other important messages. I also wrote 4 post cards and last night¢s journal while I was there. To finish my final town trip in Bennington I wen to the Post Office and sent the post cards. Due to my coke this morning I was a dime short on postage. Luckily a kind postal worker gave me the necessary dime. I love the people of Vermont! At 2 p.m. I started to hitch back to the trailhead. My hitch was a real kind man in a pickup. He asked me if I smoke and I replied ¢I¢m trying not to.¢ It was then that I noticed not a cigarette, but rather a joint held out in front of me. Apparently Vermont is more lax on such things. It did not phase me, although I was not about to ¢accidentally¢ smoke pot again (see 7/11 journal). He was cool about things and dropped me at the trail shortly thereafter. My actual hike was a 2-mile blur of uphill. I was dizzy and my stomach still rough. At 3 p.m. I reached the shelter, used the privy, and took a 3-hour nap. Now I feel rested and my tummy is at ease. A section hiker (Long Trail) is in the shelter near me and a sobo, Adrienne, is tented nearby. I told them about how awesome my visits to Bennington were as well as the Bird Cage. I feel so blessed, and I¢m excited to have a plan. Now, step one: Hike more than 2 miles tomorrow! :-) .Goodnight to all, BEATBOX   ttt