Thank you....

This entry is dedicated to those along the way who have been our recent trail angels ...:)

Nurse Carol in Manchester Center who we met while leaving EMS. She asked if we needed a ride to the trailhead. We ended up tenting in her yard and spending the evening sitting around the fire sharing stories. She had foreign exchange students and we had to pretend to be old friends so they didn't freak out. We took her to breakfast in the morning at her favorite spot and then she dropped us at the trail. Another witty nurse in VT-.... she reminded us alot of Nurse Betty :)

Then there was Billy, who we met at a little outside pub. He and I were in the parking lot (Nick ran in to see if they allowed furry friends) talking about his car and he asked questions about my pack and we started talking about the trail. We went in (pets allowed!), had a few beers with him and some eggplant fries, yum. When we told him ee were headed to the hostel,  he insisted we pitch in his yard. He took us to his beautiful house on the lake,introduced us to his wife,Jean and Nick grilled some fish for us all. We sat  out by the fire and watched the sun fall into the water. The next morning he is dropped us off in Dalton and we were back on trail, heading south.

Then along trail we meet three gentleman,  a lawyer, a pastor and an ex-Army ranger. The pastor had hiked the A.T. 8 times! The other two gentleman had hiked just a few years ago together and just recently published Avalanche and Gorilla Jim which I will be reading shortly! We exchanged stories and I told them of how we were stalling in the woods, waiting for our drop box to arrive. The pastor was insistent we head into town and advised us of a pet friendly motel and then displayed a random act of trail magic and we took their"advice" and headed to town;).  

There was Steve in Bennington that despite Bailey barking like a crazy dog took us from the trailhead to town and even gave us a tour. We proceeded to bump into him at the gas station and he drove us to the post office and then dropped us off at the laundry.

We met Mike while trying to hitch to Kent, CT to get a drop box. He had two employees with him in the front pf the truck and Nick didn't think he would stop, but he did. We hopped in the back, he offered us a few beers and proceeded to drive well out if his way to get us to the post office and within 5 minutes of them closing! We thanked him with a 12 pack for him and his workers. We exchanged FB info and said goodbye to Mike from CT.

Whilst examining my foot and debating to gather water from a source we discovered to be downstream from a cattle farm(ick), we were approached by a woman who asked if we were thru-hiking and said her daughter (who was waving from the car) insisted she stop and take us back to their house. She said she was on her way to the market but we would be back in a couple of hours. Needless to say,  we were a bit puzzled. When she returned she explained that her husband, Bill,  had hiked the trail in 99 and since then bought a house right next to the trail and has been taking in hikers ever since. Amy offered a fews beers , a shower, laundry and for dinner she made us shrimp and walnuts over blue cheese alfredo pasta....whaaaaat?!? We told them our looong story over dinner and turned in for the night. In the morning,  despite her morning routine, she made us coffee and waffles. We said our goodbyes and headed up and over the mountain.

Most recently as we prepared to cross the Hudson we were greeted by a group if day hikers who offered us some water and then told us about Oktoberfest that was being held right on the A.T. at the base of Bear Mountain.  Nick walked through the trailside museum and zoo and I waited at the end of the tunnel (no dogs allowed). The afternoon was spent consuming lots of good beer, peopleand  watching and listening to polka music. The afternoon gave way to us sitting by the lake, becoming evermore lazy. While contemplating another beer, we were greeted by 2couples on the bench who had seen us that morning crossing the bridge.  We told them our story and they said they had just finished up some hiking themselves. They "shangaid"us and drove us to their home (40miles away). They stuffed us with sushi and ample amounts of libations, they offered a warm bed and a much needed shower. In the morning they made us breakfast, stopped at the grocery and then drove us all the way back to the trail. So to Joe &Heather, thank you for an unexpected evening and your hospitality.
Last but certainly not least....thank you Mom. Without this amazing woman this journey would not be at all possible.Not only is she our support staff and mails all our drops boxes,  extra requests for gear, food and meds we have in storage, she has been sitting our kitties through part 1 and 2 of this journey. We also have our boat,  canoe and my truck stored in her yard...whew. So, to the biggest angel of all, thank you again. I probably do not say it enough for all you do and put up with. We will be done soon! ;)

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