Day 14, July 13, 12.2 miles

Other than the heat and mosquitoes, today was a great day. Got up and out of camp by 7 am. It takes me about an hour to get up, wash my face and brush my teeth, get my mattress deflated, everything packed away, my tent taken down, my bear bag retrieved, my breakfast made and eaten, my water filtered, my feet doctored and get on my way. So today, by 7, I had completed all my morning tasks and was walking. At 7:45 am, I was so wet from sweat already you’d thought I had taken a swim. The terrain was pretty good though. Not as much climbing as the last few days.

I popped out on a road at one point and had to walk across the White River. As I’m crossing, I hear a dinner bell ringing. I look up and this woman standing on her front porch across the street is motioning for me to come over. I walked over and she asked me if I would like some breakfast. Well, you know what I said. She took me inside and cooked me 4 huge blueberry pancakes and a sausage patty and offered me coffee, but I declined the coffee because I was so hot. I had a Coke instead. It was so good. What a nice lady. Linda was her name–a true trail angel. After I stuffed myself, I was back to walking.

I never would have thought that I would or could stay in other people’s (complete strangers) homes, but here I am tonight at another trail angel’s home. Warren and Toni Thayer. You come out of the woods in Norwich and their house is the first one you walk past and they have 3 coolers and boxes of ice cold drinks and snacks out by the road for hikers. They also let you sleep in their basement. You can shower and do your laundry. All for free. Wow. How nice and kind these people are.

Tomorrow Warren is going to take me 16.6 miles north to a road crossing and I’ll slack pack southbound back to their house. Then, Wednesday, he’ll take me back to the same road and I’ll continue northbound. Slack packing is a treat. Wish I had more slack packing opportunities.

Tomorrow will be my first day in New Hampshire. There will be no sad goodbyes to Vermont–just goodbyes. Two states left.

Linda