Date: 2017-06-27
From: Thistle Hill Shelter, VT

To: Trescott Rd crossing, NH
Miles today: 19.1
Weather: scattered clouds

I was a bit slow again this morning, not getting rolling until 8:44. "Doc" Bowman said that he expected to be talking to Bradley, my wife's nephew, when he gets home to Virginia in a few days.The day was pretty much ideal for hiking. The weather was a tad warm, but there was no rain. The trails were leaf-covered, pine-needle-covered, etc. - yes, I know I said this yesterday, but it's still such a treat! I was anxious to get to the town of Hanover before the post office closed, so I was pushing myself to cruise through the miles. As I was crossing a bridge in, or in the vicinity of, West Hartford, I was waved over to a house across the bridge where I found several of my hiking buddies ensconced, having breakfast (Rash/Pi±ata/Snap, a chap called Chef Boyardee, and a woman called Trinket). Randy and Linda provide coffee, muffins, fruit, and a heaping plate of scrambled eggs and sausage with toast. He hiked once and hated it. She's more the hiker than he is. They knock a kick out of having hikers sprawled on their front porch. Bless them. I ate all that was put before me, and went on my way.Rash and Pi±ata caught me going up the hill out of town, but Rash has almost no speed going downhill due to knee problems, so I caught them back. The trail drops down to the beautiful little town of Norwich. Several houses leave coolers of trail magic for thru-hikers. I got talking to Betsy, one such trail angel, who was working in her garden, and she invited me to stay for the night. Since it was early, she said that she or her husband Bill would pick me up wherever I finished hiking for the day. I took her number, as I wasn't sure how my time would work out, and pushed on.I dropped into Don & Whit's store for a few supplies. I had an ice cream cone also. It was a fairly short walk alongside a busy road to reach the bridge out of Vermont and into New Hampshire. Another state done! I reached the post office in the busy town of Hanover with an hour to spare and picked up a package sent by my wife, containing more ointment for my feet. I grabbed a strawberry milkshake at a nearby store, and called Betsy to tell her that I would keep hiking another four miles, but that I would love to take her up on her offer if it still stood. I gave her the details of the road crossing I was aiming for, and she said that would work. So off I went. The four miles went by speedily. There's one point in there where it's steep enough that the Dartmouth hiking club has installed a long rope with knots on it for pulling oneself up the rock face. I just used my poles. At the pickup point, Betsy's husband Bill showed up at 7 as planned, as storm clouds with some minor rain were dissipating. When I reached their house, I left my backpack and food in their garage, the food hung to avoid small visitors. I took my clothes in for laundering. I showered and joined my hosts at dinner. Also at the table was Powerhouse, a German hiker. We had a great meal, full of lively chat. There was dessert of bread pudding with rhubarb. I had about three helpings of that. Betsy explained that she and Bill take in hikers because of the care a family in Virginia took when Bill and Betsy's thru-hiker son was recuperating with that family for over a week. This is their way of paying back and 'paying forward'. They asked Powerhouse and me to do a similar act of kindness for other people. After dinner Powerhouse and I were installed in the basement on air mattresses. I was very happy with my day.Milestones: it's the end of week 14. In the last week, I've done my 12th of 14 states, passed the 1,700-miles-done mark, passed the 500-miles-to-go mark, and climbed my 12th Everest. Tipperary