Date: 2012-08-12
From: Etna - Hanover Center Road

To: Podunk Road
Miles today: 14.2

12 STATES DOWN AND TWO TO GO...VERMONT IS HISTORY!Today did not start out well.... I was dressing in the laundry room when the husband passed through on his way to the garage. He said that they wanted to "clear out the room today". In other words, we were out after the wife promised me yesterday that we could stay and that Tim and Nancy could stay also since Nancy needs a few days of rest. So we gathered up our things as quietly as we could since our roommates were still sleeping. We went to McDonald's to have breakfast and figure out what to do now. I looked around and noticed a Comfort Inn nearby and found that I had a coupon. So at 7:30am I went in and asked about a room. They had one but I didn't read the fine print on the coupon so it cost more than I expected...I didn't care! The young lady at the desk was so very nice and helpful that she improved my day just with her smile. It reminded me that you never know what kind of day a person you meet is having so being nice is always a good thing...you never know when you will improve someone else's day. We took some things into the room and then drove SOS to the start which was only about 9 miles today. Off he went hoping that the sky would clear and the rain would go away. He forgot to do Pitchit's trick last night with the hair dryer so his shoes were wet this morning... I stopped at a general store which was so typical of general stores..sloping floors, makeshift shelves, all types of items crowded into a small space, homemade goodies for sale...just a little spot in the world trying to be all things to all people....I admire the people who own and run these stores! Back at the room...too late for church...I decided to just relax and watch the end of one of our favorite shows (that we tape each Sunday when we are home)...CBS Sunday Morning. I finished a knitting project, took a very short nap, read a little and then left early to pick up SOS. I stopped at a food co-op which was very interesting...lots of healthy stuff in there! SOS wanted to go to Hanover for his daily shake and I wanted to go to the King Arthur Flour visitor center so we did both. The King Arthur center is brand new and very nicely done. They have a bakery with lots of choices including a flourless cookie (how did that get in a flour store??). We each had a small treat with milk and rested in the comfortable chairs. The gift shop is large and carries every imaginable thing having to do with baking. On to Hanover to get the shake...the place he wanted to go was closed but we found another one with our roommates from last night sitting outside. We also saw Pants walking down the street looking like a "real" person instead of a hiker! He cleans up nicely.... Back to the room for the night...got a call from Nancy...they are sleeping in the woods tonight and hiking into Hanover tomorrow. She has decided to go home whenever she can figure out the train schedule...we will miss her. Road Name of the Day: VELVET ROCKS this one was found by SOS...his comment was that it was a contradiction in terms...SOS here.Today it started out sunny but by the end of the day I would be rained on for the third day in a row. The rain was not enough to make my boots soggy like yesterday, but just enough to make my clothes look like I wore them into the shower.The hike today included more miles of city walking then I believe I have ever done. Because I hiked against the grain for a NoBo (North Bounder) - this is hiking south when normally you would be hiking north - I would hike out of the woods from the west to enter the city of Hanover NH and would not reenter the woods for 2.5 miles when I left Norwich VT. During the city walk I would stop at the Coop and purchase a energy bar, Paul Newman's Own Pretzels & a drink. I would also pass Dartmouth College and upscale shops in downtown Hanover.   I would cross the Conneticutt River and by doing so go from NH to VT.The best part of the city walk was right at the end just before I reentered the woods. The next to the last house before entering the woods had placed a plastic container filled with trail magic for hikers and it included ice cold watermelon; boy was it delicious!I was going to share with you previously the three times in my life I absolutely had no doubt my God is real.The first time I was in a class room. I was a freshman in high school in Rome City IN and I was by myself at lunch time recording data for a science weather experiment. It was a winter day but it was comfy hot in the class room because of the radiator heat. I had not turned the lights on so it was that semi illuminated room you get on a cloudy day. As I was recording the data I felt God's presence and believed.The second time I was in undergraduate school at Indiana University. It was spring time and I was studying for finals outside in the grass by Jordan Hall. There was other students studying outside but again I was by myself and not sitting close to anyone. What I remember is what a perfect spring day it was and the warmth of the sun not to hot just right. Once again I felt God's presence and I trusted Him.The third time I was not alone but my soulmate, Judy, was standing beside me. We were standing in the Atlantic Ocean in the island country of Barbados W.I. The ocean waves were crashing in and sucking the sand underneath your feet back out to the sea. The five senses were being bombarded by this incredible world God has made for us. I could see the waves, hear them crashing against the beach, feel the sand being sucked out beneath my feet, smell the ocean smells and taste the oceans saltiness as it sprayed on my lips. I KNOW THAT ONLY GOD could create me and bless me with this incredible experience! I write this so those who read it - including my children, my grandchildren and my grandchildren's children will know I am a Christian and I believe.