Date: 2013-08-21
From: Thistle Hill Shelter campsite

To: Hanover, NH
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Pressure D and I where first out of camp this morning. As a matter of fact, no one else was even awake when we left. The trail was not as steep today. Pressure D was on fire and set a fast pace. I struggled all day long to stay up with him. For awhile we were above the clouds. Then we were in the clouds and the rays of sun were coming thru the clouds in different directions. It was quite beautiful (see pics). Eventually we came out below the clouds. After about 5 miles we hiked into West Hartford, VT. Some towns are very hiker friendly and others are almost hostile toward hikers. West Hartford was one of the most hiker friendly towns on my journey. We stopped in the Village Store for breakfast. They were so friendly and happily allowed us to plug in our phones. The food was delicious and I had real maple syrup with my french toast - something I missed in the south. Bear Foot arrived while we were having breakfast and hung out with us. As we hiked out of town there were signs at businesses that said we could get water and tent there. We came upon a beautiful historic house that had once been a schoolhouse. The trail went in front of the house but below a stone wall. The wall was about 4 ft high with the yard was level with the top of the wall. As we approached the house a border collie eagerly awaited our arrival and a rubber frisbee was laying at the bottom of the wall. Of course we picked up the frisbee and threw it. The collie caught it in the air, brought it to the wall and dropped it over the edge. This dog totally had hikers figured out. We stayed for about 20 minutes playing with the dog. There are several good pictures from today but the dog earned top honors. He brought me so much joy!We met 2 SOBO's named Starry Knight and Sunny Day who are hiking for Hiking Heroes, an organization that helps veterans who want to hike the trail and helps them find jobs. The struggles of veterans is so apparent on the trail and my heart goes out to them. When we came out of the woods in Norwich, VT we found trail magic by someone's mailbox. Not only was there food, but they had pamphlets of information regarding local services and a list of local trail angels. It's funny how you never know how a day will turn out. More to come about the person offering trail magic. Starting in Norwich there is the longest amount of road walking on the entire AT - its about three and a half miles. We walked by beautiful old houses, across the Connecticut River and into New Hampshire - yeah!!! Twelve states down and and two more to goIn Hanover, NH we walked right onto the Dartmouth College campus. They allow you to store your packs in a building while you walk around town. We immediately found a place to eat and I almost fell out of my chair laughing as Pressure D ate edamame for the first time and struggled to figure out how to get the little peas out of the pod. We were trying to get to a place where you can take a shower and do laundry but it was closed when we arrived. Pressure D's daughter was a softball star at Dartmouth so we walked to the athletic building were her picture is supposed to be on the wall. We never found her picture but Pressure D talked to one of the assistant athletic directors who allowed us to shower in one of the locker rooms. As I said earlier, you never know how things will turn out. We called one of the trail angels on the list who, as it turns out, was the same person that was offering the trail magic. Her husband came and picked us up, they fed us dinner, washed our clothes, and allowed us to sleep on air mattresses in their basement - all out of the goodness of their heart. They ask for no payment. The people here are me, Pressure D, Whirled Peas, and a SOBO called Ranger Rick.