Back to the real world?

Or is the trail the real world? :)

We hiked the last few miles in to Hanover where we got our car, stopped at the grocery store and found a road crossing in Vermont to do some trail magic.

You just never know where the bubbles of hikers are and we only saw a few , but we had fun catching up anyway. On the way back to Hanover, we crossed the bridge in West Hartford that we had jumped from last year. There is a house catty corner from the bridge, so we stopped and gave our cooler of sodas, chips, oranges etc to them, because they feed all the hikers that come across the bridge. So trail magic for trail Angels :)

Tomorrow we head back to Manchester and home, but it sure felt good to be back in the woods for a few days!

Day two

Woke up in my toasty tent with the sun shining in. It gets light early up here! Checked my watch thinking it was probably time to get rolling but it was only 5:20!! Back to sleep. Finally got up and going with plans to meet up with Movin' On and Thin Mint on the trail later in the day. More hiker friends from last year! Yay!

As we left Bill's we came upon a hiker and I could not have been more surprised to see anyone from last year than the Professor , also known as Angry Phil. The only guy who really did not seem to be enjoying himself last year. The first time I met him, was in Tennessee and he said, "I hate this sh*t" and by Jove, there he was again.

Apparently he almost finished last year but stopped in Monson. (Just the 100 mile wilderness and 15 more miles to complete)

Hiked on and saw some fresh moose tracks 

Felt good to be hikin in beautiful New Hampshire again. Land of Christmas trees.

Up over Moose Mountain where we had camped on the south peak last year and down the other side where we met up with Movin' On and Thin Mint. So cool that it worked out that they were in the area!!

Sat up and talked and reminisced until ALMOST dark (late for us) and one last night in the woods. Heard owls, deer huffing around our tents and a bobcat screaming and stomping around and then listened as the sound got farther away.  Another great night in the woods. I almost felt as grimy and smelly as last summer! And didn't mind at all.

Back in the woods...if only for a short time...

Felt so good, and weird, and normal. But not. We met lots of thru-hikers, both NOBO and SOBO's and it was strange not to be one of them. When we came across trail magic, we passed, because we felt like that should be for those that are out there for the long haul! 

Met up with Murphy in Manchester, NH and we drove to Hanover. The trail goes right through Hanover and as ridiculous as it may sound, I got kind of teary when I saw my first white blaze!! We shuttled up about 35 miles from Hanover and started hiking back. Southbound! Gasp!!!! It felt strange but familiar.

We hiked 16 miles the first day. Up over Mount Cube and Smarts Mountain. Searched for the spot where we had to throw our tents up in the pouring rain as we ran down from Smart Mountain fire tower in a thunderstorm. Laughed a lot. Ended our day at one of those uniquely wonderful AT spots, the home of Bill Ackerly, retired doc from Cambridge, who is witty and welcoming. 

We got to Bills fairly late, so we set up our tents out in the field behind his house .

After leaving Kansas with almost 100 degree temps and 90% humidity, the chilly night air was incredible and I slept great. Great to be back in my tent!

New Hampshire!!

So...back for a few days of trail therapy. It's kind of ridiculous how excited I am!! Driving to the airport this morning (at 3 a.m. ) I had a big, stupid grin on my face. United Airlines tried to wipe that smile away. Again. And again. But even their cancellations and delays couldn't do it.

Met up with Murphy in Manchester, NH. I can't believe it's been almost eleven months since we finished. First stop on the way to Hanover was ....Cumberland Farms and one of last years favorite trail treats...

We ate a bunch of these last year! A little more guilt involved this year, but not enough to stop us from buying one...or two :)

Up early tomorrow and we are shuttling about 35 miles up the trail and then hiking south back to Hanover and our car. Passing a few memorable spots on the way back. A few climbs which were totally do-able last year but we are not quite in the shape we were, so it will be interesting!! Plus, we'll be hiking south! Craziness!! :) Then Friday we are going to pick a spot and do a little trail magic for this years class of they-hikers, which I think will be so fun.