Vermont!

I'm in Vermont! Yesterday, I crossed the border and made my way into the 8th state so far since beginning my trip June 5. I am currently in a computer store in Bennington, waiting for my friend Dow to join me for the weekend. Bennington is a great place, but is also 5 miles west of the trail along VT9. I was lucky enough to meet a local couple at Congdon Shelter last night who dropped me off in town at the shoe store. My newer pair of shoes that I received 4 days ago turned out to be too small, something I failed to realize when I first tried them out around the flat parking lot in Dalton.

My last several days have been slightly less productive (9 miles, 11 miles, 18 miles, and today will be 8 miles) due to record high tempatures and shoes that crush the ends of my toes going downhill. Over the last 3 days, I have met some new thru-hikers; Maple (from California who I hiked with yesterday), Tin-tin (from England), and Megladon. The hike up Mt. Greylock, tallest in Massachusetts, turned out to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. On the summitt was a nice lodge, newly renovated last year, which served lunch. That night I hung out with four guys, on a week long hike, that had driven from Detroit. The night was pretty normal until they proposed the idea of a drum circle. I soon found myself beating on the table throwing down a bass line, while one guy beat on a pan with a spoon, and two others beat on the logs and rocks around. It was kinda cool, but really strange at the same time. Apparently this happens a lot in differnt areas of the country because they go to one with 200 people in downtown Detroit every Wendsday. Also, I mentioned it to Maple during our hike the next day, and see had frequented a couple in some areas of California; not suprising. It was an interesting experience to say the least.

Arriving in Bennington I bought a new pair of Merrells, and was dropped off downtown by a nice lady who mailed my old shoes back home for me! I discovered a great used bookstore in town, and also got a haircut; buzz 1/2 inch gaurd. The town also offers free showers to hikers at the rec center! So, after the shower I did some laundry, and wondered town somemore in search of a computer which brings me to here.

I am still very much enjoying the hike, and am happy to have a renewed desire for reading. I feel a greater passion for the hike now, having entered into the Green Mountain National Forest and coming closer and closer to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Thinks are going very well for me, and I hope they are for you too! As always, thank you so much for the support and interest in my hike.

The Kid