Date: 2018-06-19
From: Wintturi Shelter

To: The woods past Dartmouth college
Miles today: 27.0
Weather: few clouds

Storms ripped through the area last night and absolutely dumped rain. All night there was rain, wind and lightning. I guess we got the same storm that some other towns in the area got that took out power and messed things up. It was intense. Lucky for us though, we didn't have to hike through it and stayed dry for the most part. It was all over by the morning.I got up and headed out on trail not before having to change from my sleep clothes to my sweat covered, cold hiking clothes. That was no fun. As soon as I put them on and started hiking though they began to dry up. Doesn't mean I smell good though!The weather today was cooler with nice winds and clouds giving in and out sunshine. It was a beautiful day for hiking. The start of the day was what I would consider a roller coaster. Constant small ups and downs that would rival the roller coaster section in VA. Two Clicks and I had hoped to stop at the Cloudland Market for a pick me up drink or something but after pushing hard across the roller coaster, we found out it was closed. That was a let down. Pushing on though, we happened upon some trail magic of sodas next to a river and took full advantage of that!Before noon we stopped together at a shelter for an early lunch and coffee break. That helped power us through the day. I took a few stops at some lookouts and sat on an awesome bench looking off to the east. The bench said "VT Relax and Enjoy" so I followed orders and did so with a chance to air out my feet. We had been praying for more open terrain and fields and we sure got it! That meant getting our feet soaked though in the over hanging grasses soaked from last night's storm.Eventually we made it into West Hartford, VT where we walk through town. A nice couple with a house right on trail invited us to their porch for sodas and muffins! Yet another great boost before our last climb over to the NH border!We climbed up Happy Hill which was actually not a bad climb but I was happy it was over. Punny! From here we descended into Norwich, VT.After Two Clicks and I met back up at the road walk we began the stroll through town. Multiple houses along the road had trail magic! Sodas and fresh bread! What a day for surprises! In town we went off trail just a bit and resupplied before going next door for beers at the brewery! Its been nice drinking local beers along the trail. You could probably consider this a giant bar crawl. Or maybe a food crawl for me!We loaded up with a small buzz due to the fact we hadn't eaten anything and walked across the border into NH. I was so pumped! It's amazing to me thinking I walked from GA to NH and have under 500 miles left. That's still a ton and, yes, I still need to focus but I can be excited!After our border pictures, we walked into Hanover. I've never been to this part of NH but it's nice! Reminds me a lot of Portsmouth for sure. It's funny the contrast between rich, high class Dartmouth students and families to the hiker trash that walk through town. I think this experience has humbled me in the fact that I can see through both lenses. Having had the opportunity to go to college as well as being homeless with money. Hopefully it'll make me a more kind, understanding and more well rounded human.We stopped at Domino's for a large pizza each and both wolfed them down inside the shop while joking around with the worker there. He was impressed with us both downing our pizzas! Now it was time to find a place to stay. We ended up talking to another hiker named Hawk who told us of stealth spots past Dartmouth college in the woods. We walked back into what I like to call "Appalachian Trail land" and found a bunch of tent spots just past the softball field in the woods! It was amazing and really pushed the point home of being homeless with the ability to set up 'home' anywhere we want along trail. We paid nothing to sleep at Dartmouth College with a great view of the fields! After setting up our tents we walked to the college Co-Op and got a few beers and a drink. We made it right before it closed at 8 then brought back our drinks to the woods to sip on them. Both of us had a cigar as well to celebrate NH! My once a year $2 gas station cigar haha. We sat on some rocks overlooking the fields as the sun went down. It hadn't really sunk in that we were in NH for either of us because we had yet to venture into a place we knew or get hit by the rugged mountains ahead. Onto the whites we go though! Thanks to VT for being so beautiful and such a nice change of pace.