Date: 2005-08-09
From: .2 miles south of Winhall River, VT

To: Glastenbury Mountain, VT
Miles today: 20.9

20.9 miles todayStealth tenting.Glastenbury Mountain, Vt. I didn't wake up until 6 this morning. I made my coffee and ate half the cheese danish I packed in and was walking by 6:50. I remind myself of the old nylon car tires when it's cold out...I kind of bump along for the first couple of miles and then I start running smoothly. :-))) I find that if I start out slowly, I can pick up my pace and walk all day without getting tired. I wonder what it will be like when I get old...like 53 or so. There was a little lite rain that didn't last long when I got started walking. I stopped at Stratton Pond Shelter and ran into a bunch of nobos still there. Took, Gypsy LuLu, Mouth, Tink and Clearwater were there. I got into an argument with them about which is the right way to go...north or south. I made my point about the books that call the Appalachian Trail the trail that goes from Maine to Georgia and then I stuck my fingers in my ears and whistled so I couldn't hear them...I won. Ha!!!  ;-))) I climbed Stratton Mountain and on the way up I ran into Gina and Hugh. They are the caretakers that live in a little hut on the top of Stratton Mountain and they've been taking care of the mountain for 37 years. Hugh started out in the firetower watching for fires until they discontinued that, then they became the caretakers. We talked for a while, then I headed down the mountain. I ran into Newheart and Noodle, then Goat and Buffet on the way down. Buffet said she got her name in Blairsville, Ga at the Cookie Jar Buffet because of all the hikers there, she went back more than anyone else for more food. I kept walking until I got to Story Spring Shelter where I met Fancy Pants and Swinger. I ate lunch there and noticed for the first time on this hike that I seem to be getting my hiker appetite back. I ate everything I had out for the whole day...uh oh. Today was humid, but there was a nice breeze most of the day so it didn't feel too bad out. I left there and saw a girl coming towards me. I asked her what her name was and she said Goosebump. She's not MY Goosebump!!! My Goosebump now has a Babybump...thanks to Rainbow Slick. I hiked with Goosebump and Rainbow Slick alot in '03 and it just sounded strange when she said her name was Goosebump. I told her that MY Goosebump's full trail name is Goosebump The Snow Princess. I continued on and ran into 2 more nobos by the names of Longhaul and Break-A-Leg. Longhaul and I have a mutual friend. We talked about Jan Liteshoe and had a good laugh right in the middle of the trail. If Liteshoe would have heard us talking, it would have cost me some more flowers. It's too bad about Liteshoe...she used to be a good hiker, but now instead of getting mud on her shoes, she gets carpet fibers on them...too bad. ;-))) I was climbing Glastenbury Mountain when I ran into Pussgut. (I think I'd change my name) He said Fantasy Feet is back on the trail and about 4 days ahead of me. Hopefully I'll catch up. I see him out here every year. I ran into Brother Buzz and his wife, Sister Buzz just before I got to the top of Glastenbury. When I got to the top, I climbed the firetower and cooked dinner. The wind always blows hard up above the trees and it felt good up there. I heard there's a chance of thunder showers and since there's no roof on this fire tower, I went back down and set up my tent. There are 9 workers on a trail crew that tore down the old Goddard Shelter today. They said there's going to be a new one built in it's place. I talked to Garth, the head honcho of this work crew for about 30 minutes. I stopped walking early today because Amoeba is picking me up at Rt 9 tomorrow and taking me to her house for a shower and some food. It's only 10 miles to Rt 9 and I don't have to be there until 2:30pm. I'll have to find some way to waste some time tomorrow. That shouldn't be hard for me, huh Mom???  ;-)))