One of the advantages to sleeping in a shelter is a quick morning start. No need to take down and stow the tent. We were on the trail by 7:20 AM. We had about 11 miles to the intersection of the LT and Vermont 11, which would take us into Manchester Center where we had reservations at the hiker hostel, Green Mountain House.
For some reason, Dennis and I found the hike difficult today. I’m not sure if it’s because yesterday’s hike was so demanding or if because we need a break. There were lots of false hill tops, more ups than I wanted, and I just dragged myself up to the road. I don’t think I could have gone much farther.
It didn’t take long for a pickup truck to pull over and we climbed into the bed of the truck. Sitting there with the wind blowing our hair was such a treat. The driver stopped in the center of town. We climbed down from the back of the truck and waved the driver goodbye, along with our hiking poles. Prior to leaving, Dennis handed the driver his business card and offered to send him a copy of his book if he emailed us his address. We hoped that he would contact us.
Dennis felt terrible, since he was the one holding the poles. No use crying about it, it’s only money.
Since I had been yearning a hamburger all day, we asked the locals where we could get a good burger. Two different people recommended McDonald’s. Finally, two house painters gave us directions to Seasons, a local restaurant. There, I sated my taste buds with a juicy half-pounder, sweet potato fries, and a local Vermont brew.
After filling our bellies, we called Jeff, the hostel proprietor. It felt so good to take a shower and sleep in a bed. As part of the fee, Jeff gives each guest a pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I now have a new favorite: New York Super Fudge Chunk.
We had a delightful night. “Werewolf,” who walks in a kilt, was there. We had met him at the Stratton Pond Shelter. “K2” from the Goddard Shelter was there. “New Song,” who is recovering from a broken ankle, delighted us with colorful stories of his life. As he says, long-distance hikers are unique.
The next day, we went into town to resupply, buy new shoes, and replace the hiking poles. EMS said that if the gentleman returned our poles they would take back our newly purchased one. I’m not too hopeful. The driver will have to notice them in the bed of his truck. If he is like me, he won’t look in there for a while.
It took us until 4 PM to get all our errands done and have an early supper at the Thai Basil. I wasn’t impressed with my choice, but Dennis enjoyed is Pad Thai. The presentation was lovely, but my vegetables were still frozen in places. Nonetheless, it was nice sitting outdoors with the Green Mountains as backdrop.
Since we did not get a chance to rest, we asked to extend our stay. Jeff is fully booked, so we reserved one night at the Sutton’s Place in town. Tomorrow will be a rest day.
Before leaving, we weighed our packs. Mine, with food and water weighs a little over 22 lbs. Dennis’ bag weighs about 35.5 lbs. He is carrying the tent, amateur radio gear, and the computer. I was surprised by the weight. I thought it was heavier. Must be another reason I am so slow.
