Day 72: Trail Angels and the Magic Bus

Summary

July 22nd

NOBO mile #1683.1

Tolmann’s daily mileage 6.3

Tolmann’s total mileage 659.4

Breakfast at the hostel was scrambled eggs and red peppers, rice, bananas, toast, and watermelon slices. 

As I prepared to catch the 9:50 bus back to Wallingford, it occurred to me to ask the hostel folks if there were other options. As it turns out, there is: a local trail angel who provided rides for the price of the gas. I called him and he said he’d pick me up at 10am. So I wouldn’t have to walk or hitch my way from Wallingford to the trailhead. Score!!

I took a few minutes to walk through the local farmers market near the hostel, but didn’t get anything. Later I regretted not getting any fruit for lunch. 

Then I sat outside the hostel and waited for my ride. Tom, the trail angel, had sectioned the AT a fair time ago. He really felt connected to the community, so was trying to give back and stay connected. He had another hiker he needed to pick up and drop off before he could drop me, and in the interim, I learned a lot about the back roads and about military history, especially the civil war. 

He dropped me at the trailhead at 11:00.

Then I was climbing Bear Mountain. While going up, a NOBOer passed me. No surprise, I was climbing slowly again. But it wasn’t an endless climb, just tiring. I needed to sit and rest a number of times, but once at the top, it became much easier. In fact, I caught back up to the NOBOer,  whose name, it turned out, was Sasquatch. He was confused by the addition of red blazes on the trail, and was concerned he had lost the trail. Guthook’s app confirmed we were still on the trail, so we walked on together. We were both headed to the next shelter to eat lunch, and the shelter was maybe half a mile away. As I’ve noted before, it is perfectly comfortable to chat a bit, and also be quiet with fellow hikers, so we had a good lunch together. From the shelter to RT 103 was about three miles, with the Clarendon Shelter just a little after that. I was thinking of making it a short day again, to give my back a chance to get used to the weight of the pack. The next shelter was another six miles further on.

After lunch was another climb, then a slight descent. A couple passed me on the descent, but I managed to keep them in sight for a while. A passing SOBOer mentioned that the crew from the Yellow Deli (yes, the same Yellow Deli) were at 103 providing trail magic. They had the “big bus”. I started thinking it might be good to see if they had room to bring me back to the hostel. 

Next I came to the Airport Overlook, the only view for the day.

Beyond that was the run for Clarendon Gorge and the suspension bridge there, and the road beyond. And maybe a bus to bring me back to Rutland.

It was another tough downhill run, this time steeper, and more punishing to my back, and also my knees and feet. When I got to the gorge, I saw the backpacks of the couple with the guitar and uke laying near the river; evidently they were cooling off, although I didn’t see them.

Walking a cable bridge can be unnerving at the best of times, but make yourself top heavy by wearing a pack, it can be terrifying, as the bridge begins to move under you. The only way I got across was by knowing how much more terrifying turning around in the middle would be.

Then I was climbing the last grade to the parking lot. The Yellow Deli bus was there. They were packing up to leave, so it didn’t appear any trail magic was forthcoming. But as I walked up, a woman asked if I wanted to go to the hostel. I said yes. So I got to ride in the “big bus”. That alone was worth the price of admission.

I don’t know the brand or model or year of this bus, but it seemed like a vintage vehicle. Not only that, but they added the top of another type of bus to the top of this one making it higher. 

And then they finished the inside all with wood and stained glass, all custom work; it was clear that a lot of care went into the work.

So I ended up back at the hostel, with a walk over to price chopper for a quart of chocolate milk, and a visit to the frozen yogurt store.

Tonight’s celebration meal was chicken tetrazzini with salad. 

I have a ride share out to 103 tomorrow. I have no idea what the day will bring. Isn’t life supercool?