Christmas Trip - Day 4

I woke up early (0600) and went to help John move things into his mother’s new home.  Meanwhile, Mollie slept late (she stayed at my sister's house with Ella).  Fr most of the morning, John, Katie, Johnny and I worked for several hours between locations in Marshfield and Kingston.  While I was driving with Johnny, he got pulled over by the police but only got a warning.  When we were finished (1130), we went back to Katie’s house and ate lunch.  Katie and her family had to leave for some errands so Mollie and I packed up our car.  We left Hanover (MA) at 1215 and used MA-3, I-93 (traffic in Boston), NH-3A and I-89 to get back into the Granite State.  While still in Massachusetts, we had some good conversations about our trip and shared family news.  During the second half of the trip, we listened to more stories from “The Moth” and talked about how we were disappointed the snow in New Hampshire had almost all melted.  We got home just after 1430 and unloaded the car.  Mollie said she had a great time - I'm really glad we were able to spend the Holiday with family!

Christmas Trip - Day 3

The kids woke up at around 0800 and we opened Christmas presents.  Mollie was glad with the stocking items I’d gotten and Katie made the experience very special with even more gifts.  Afterwards, Mollie and Ella cooked a Christmas breakfast and Katie read us the Christmas Story.  Later, we watched Christmas movies until it was time to make the big Christmas Dinner.  Mollie and Ella cooked a lot and had a great time making things tasty.  We ate with Katie and her family and had a fun time with Aria's dog (Storm) and the cats.  After gorging ourselves, we spent the afternoon relaxing (Mollie played card games with the family while I read).  As if they hadn't already made enough food (!), Mollie and Ella made sausage and cheese balls as a snack.  It was very rainy most of the day but I was able to take a walk at around 1600. Mollie made several calls to her mother and sisters.  Meanshile, the rest of the family ate some more food and went back in the hot tub (1800).  At around 1930, Mollie went with Johnny to fish for trout (in the dark!.  When they came back (almost two hours later), she said she’d had a great time.  The rest of the evening was spent with calls to my family (Dad, Carolyn) and planning for the next day.  I went to bed at 2200 but Mollie stayed up later again.

Christmas Trip - Day 2

I had to telework early in the morning but was also able to take a walk before most everyone else was awake.  I also went in the hot tub with snow all around me!  When Mollie woke up (1030), we all had a light breakfast and then she spent the morning watching “A Christmas Story” with my sister’s family.  I treated everyone to lunch from Bertucci’s at 1215 and later finished my telework day (1345).  A bit later, Mollie asked if we could drive down to Cape Cod to see my dad and Beth so I took her there (via MA-3 and US-6).  We stopped briefly so we could "visit" (from the car, with masks) and then headed east on MA-6A.  After reaching Yarmouth, we explored familiar areas near my childhood home and also stopped at my mom’s grave site in Brewster (1600).  We took a brief walk on Paine’s Creek Beach and then headed back toward my sister's house (US-6, MA-3).  We listened to more “The Moth” podcasts on the way and Mollie enjoyed these even more than she had the previous night.  We arrived in Hanover (MA) at 1730 and ate a light dinner (tuna fish sandwiches, Mollie’s request because it was “tradition”).  Mollie spent the rest of the evening with her cousins (cooking, hot tub, fire pit, movies).  I went to bed at 2200 but Mollie stayed up even later than the previous night - she is really glad to be here.

Christmas Trip - Day 1

My sister, Katie, invited us to spend time with her family over the Christmas Holiday so I was ready to go early this morning.  However, Mollie didn't wake up until almost 1000.  With the prospect of seeing her cousins, she helped me pack the rest of the items we planned to take with us.  Mollie suggested that we also bring the centerpiece we’d bought for my condo so we did.  Since I'd started teleworking while waiting for Mollie, I decided to finish my full day (rather than use leave).  We ended up leaving my condo at 1530 (after getting gas at Irving).  We took I-89 and stopped in Warner to get a gift card from Market Basket for my dad.  We also got dinner from McDonalds (1615) to take with us while we continued our drive.  We stayed on I-89 until it ended - from there, we took NH-3A to reach I-93.  We listened to our Johnny Mathis Christmas music CD on the way and also figured out how to play a “The Moth” podcast (Mollie liked it).  Despite some traffic after we reached Boston (switched to MA-3), we were still able to reach my sister’s house in Hanover (MA) by 1830.  Mollie spent the evening cooking with her cousins and indulging in sweet snacks (we all decorated gingerbread cookies).  Everyone had fun talking and visiting.  Some of the braver members of the family (not me) went in the hot tub!  Tired from my long day, I went to bed (2200) but Mollie stayed up much later. 

Grantham, NH (USA)

This morning, I took a break from work and drove over to Grantham at about 0930 so I could take a cross country skiing lesson at the Eastman Cross Country Center.  Over the previous weekend, I'd bought a season pass and the weather seemed good to try out my new equipment.  At 1000, I met with my instructor, Maureen, and we quickly figured out that I had the wrong kind of poles - she let me borrow some from the pro shop.  Maureen then took me around on some trails near the Clubhouse - the Practice Loop and Pond Loop - and showed me how to recover from a fall and how to move by body properly while skiing.  Temps were in the 30s but I built up a sweat (I was overdressed).  It had been almost 30 years since I strapped on a pair of skis so I definitely felt rusty.  Most of the actions and muscle requirements were foreign to me but Maureen said I seemed like I was comfortable - that felt good!  She said she had been skiing at Eastman for 32 years and worked as an instructure for most of that time.  We spent an hour on my technique and comfort.  Just after 1100, we were done and I then drove over to South Cove Clubhouse to get my Season Pass.  Because I still had work to do at home, I left immediately after getting the card - I was home before noon and immediately ordered a set of ski poles online.  Looking forward to getting some good use out of the Pass!

Enfield, NH (USA)

I saw people climbing Whaleback Mountain yesterday, even though the resort didn’t appear to be open, and decided to see if I could join them!  After Mass in Lebanon, I drove over to Enfield and arrived by about 0900 - I was one of the first people in the parking lot.  I spoke with the other folks who were already there and figured out how to navigate the slopes.  Apparently, the place is operated by the Town and is used by locals even on days when the office isn't open and the chair lift isn't running.  Before I headed up the mountain, I also got some ski/snowshoe courtesy tips (“sharing the road”).  Everyone else was climbing the mountain on wide downhill skis with skins on the bottom but I opted for my snowshoes.  Temps started in the high teens but climbed into the 20s - I was plenty warm with the layers I had.  The climb wasn’t too difficult (in terms of footing) because there were a few worn tracks.  Where I strayed from those, however, I sank up to my waist in the snow.  I kept pace with the other climbers but felt like I hadn’t climbed a mountain in years.  The views on the way up - and especially at the top - were well worth the huffing and puffing.  Wow!  All the other people at the summit converted into “downhill mode” (helmets on, skins off) and skied away quickly.  I paused for a bit, enjoying being the only person left in the winter wonderland, and then followed after them.  This ultimately turned out to be a mistake: there were no pathways and the steepness made big slides very likely.  Needless to say, I planted myself face down and on my backside a few times.  After a tough slog with several falls, I made it to the bottom (done by 1130).  The parking lot was quite full and the resort staff were firing up the lifts.  After the morning snow adventures I’d already had, it seemed like a good idea to skedaddle.  If I get more days like this, the winter weather won’t get me down at all!

Grantham, NH (USA)

Mollie and I got on the road at 1130.  At our first stop, Mollie stayed in the car but I helped the Knights of Columbus during Wreaths Across America at Colburn Park.  Only three of us showed up due to the weather but we did our best to honor Lebanon’s heroes.  After about 45 minutes in the freezing cold, I was ready to get warm in the car!  Mollie and I drove over to Eastman Golf Links in Grantham because I was considering getting a season pass for the Cross Country ski trails.  We got out to look around near Clubhouse and met some nice people.  I signed up for a cross country skiing lesson for the next week and then Mollie and I drove to the South Cove area (to check out the lake and another clubhouse).  While there, we actually decided to take advantage of the improving weather and took a walk along the water.  Inside the clubhouse, I got some more information about on-site amenities.  Afterwards, we drove to West Lebanon so we could do some shopping for Christmas.  There were SO many people shopping (lines out the door at a couple of places) that we decided to postpone our shopping for a few more days.  Instead, we headed home, arriving at around 1430.  Good Recce trip!

Ascutney, VT (USA)

Mollie seemed energized by our mountain climb yesterday and said she wanted to try something more strenuous - I then recommended that we sneak across the Connecticut River (“Westbound & down...”) for some outdoor fun.  I was able to rouse her by 0900 this morning and we were on our way about an hour later.  We first picked up some sandwiches (to go) at Dan and Whit’s General Store in Norwich and then took I-91 south to Ascutney.  We checked out the State Park visitor center and auto road (both closed) and then backtracked towards the town of Weathersfield (via VT-131).  Several times this summer, I’d passed a sign that said there was a parking lot for trails up the south side of Mount Ascutney - we successfully found it at around 1100.  There were only a few cars in the lot and this pleased us because we were seeking solitude.  We ate part of our lunch in the car and then started our walk into the woods (Weathersfield Trail).  Temps were in the low 40s, it was foggy and there was ice & snow in many places.  Because of this, we planned to only climb the first third of the route to the summit (mainly to see two sets of waterfalls). This turned out to be a wise decision because the trail conditions were challenging.  We took a lot of extra time to cautiously transit slippery areas and marveled at the ice formations.  The trail was very well marked (white blazes) and wasn’t too steep.  Mollie really liked the waterfalls!  We actually had to walk across one on stones (no bridges).  After reaching the second area of cascades, we climbed farther up the mountain until we found a bypass trail (blue blazes) - this made our route sort of lariat shaped.  During our backtrack, we were treated to amazing vistas to the southwest (the sun finally came out and most of the fog moved out).  I was quite impressed by the ghostly image of Okemo Mountain Resort - the mountain was almost completely covered in snow.  We talked a bit with other hikers we passed, including one backpacker who was headed up to Gus’ Lookout for an overnight stay.  The temps had climbed up to almost 50 so it made a bit more sense than it might have during the previous few days...  Our descent took almost as long as the climb because of the slippery footing.  We reached our car after about an hour and a half on the mountain - we could barely get our car out of the parking lot by then because so many people had arrived after us!  We ate some snacks and looked at our map for places that might sell Maple Creamees (Mollie said she wanted to try one).  After checking out a place located a bit to the southwest of the Weathersfield trailhead, we learned that almost everyone had stopped selling them for the season.  Disappointed, we backtracked into New Hampshire on VT-131 and then took NH-12A to the north.  On the way to West Lebanon, I had an idea - maybe we could find other kinds of maple products that Mollie would like!  With this in mind, I took her down (muddy) River Road and we stopped at Mac’s Maple Farm.  When we went inside, we decided that the maple creamee search wasn’t a total bust - they actually had some in pints!  They also had lots of other good farm to table groceries - we shipped some of them to Brenna and Erin (1345).  Mollie commented on how the owners and other shoppers were really nice - Plainfield continues to shine!  After reaching civilization again, we did some shopping at Walmart (picked up groceries and Christmas gifts) and arrived home by 1530.  What a great escape - I can’t wait to return to climb all the way to the Ascutney Summit in the Spring!

Lyme, NH (USA)

Mollie had told me she was open to doing something outside today so I tried to wake her up at 0830.  However, she seemed to have changed her mind and I thought it meant we wouldn’t end up going anywhere.  However, she eventually (1000) got ready.  The forecast said we had about six hours of daylight for outdoor activity (before rain arrived) and I wasn't sure what we should do.  Initially, I drove Mollie around to see some of the places I’d enjoyed this summer: Etna, Goose Pond and Dartmouth Skiway (closed).  From my condo, we’ve recently been able to see snowy ridges to the east - the drive confirmed there had been a lot more winter weather in those places than we’ve had in Hanover!  After reaching Lyme, we crossed the Connecticut River to get some lunch at Huggett's Irving in East Thetford, Vermont (1055).  After eating, we drove back to New Hampshire and then north on River Road, looking for the Lyme Hill Conservation Area.  During all of our exploring, we got good views of Moose Mountain, Smarts Mountain, Cube Mountain and a hint of Moosilauke - I was itching for some climbing on those higher peaks but knew I’d never be able to convince my daughter to have such “fun”.  We reached Orford without finding the Conservation Area - the cell signal was very spotty and I had to drive back to Lyme to get any reception.  I used Google Maps and it pointed us to the south on NH-10 - we just had to drive a short distance out of the village to find it.  We parked at the Trailhead on NH-10 (1130) and headed into the woods.  Temps were in the mid 30s but we shed our coats during the steep climb up Lyme Hill (Mollie didn't enjoy it) - whew!  We had a nice vista to the northeast from the summit (could see the southern end of the White Mountains) and there was bench which allowed us to catch our breath.  We made quick tracks downhill and, an hour after starting our hike, reached the car (1230), We then drove south to the Dartmouth campus and I showed Mollie several places I’ve discovered since moving north.  We reached my condo just as raindrops fell on our car.  Glad we squeezed in another day outside before the really cold weather arrives...

West Lebanon, NH (USA)

I woke Mollie up at 0900 because she'd asked to could come with me to West Lebanon for some errands.  We shopped at several places for supplies and groceries and were going to head home.  On the way, though, I pointed out the Powerhouse Mall to Mollie.  It usually doesn't have a lot of activity near it but today the parking lot was full (until now, I’d thought it was closed for COVID-19).  Mollie suggested that we look inside and I must say "Wow - what a place!"  We explored the Eastern Mountain Sports and LL Bean (both were huge) and several other boutique stores.  Our favorite place was Lemon Tree Gifts - they were selling hand made pillows with State, City and College themes.  We found one for Cape Cod!  The place reminded us of Union Station. We both agreed that we should definitely return.  As we were leaving, I commented on how the weather so clear and sunny - I asked Mollie if she was open to exploring some trails that appeared to be connected to the Mascoma River Greenway (she said she was).  Driving a short distance to the Skatepark, we parked and continued our search for the elusive western terminus of the old WRJ-Boston railroad route.  We found what appeared to be the track bed near the Skatepark - a well-worn gravel path paralleled it, so we took a pleasant stroll to the west.  The woods trail followed the Mascoma River (some good rapids!) and took us (by foot) back at the Powerhouse Mall.  While backtracking to the car, I decided to follow a different route - it was much more reminiscent of a "railroad berm," so I thought it was the Northern Railroad route.  However, when we reached the Skatepark again, it became clear that the main railroad track crossed the road and river nearby at a height that was too high to meet the walking trail.  Mollie decided that she wasn’t interested in bushwhacking (she got back in the car) but I kept going.  After some effort (steep climb up the high embankment), I managed to get up on top of the high berm and found tracks on ties.  I quickly figured out that the eastbound track was inactive because the trestle was overgrown with trees.  Following the old tracks, I was able to cross the river and retrace my steps to the bridge I’d found a few months ago (when I walked into the woods from the Mascoma River Greenway).  For some reason, the rail trail hasn’t been finished - but it appears that it could be someday.  Now I’m even more intrigued - I didn’t see any “no trespassing” signs so maybe I can follow the tracks across the Connecticut River (...remembering how we used to do that on the Bass River trestle...) someday.  Glad I got a break from work and that I could spend some more time outside with Mollie!

Plainfield, NH (USA)

Following advice from locals we met since Mollie arrived, we made plans to go to Plainfield this evening to search for Christmas lights.  After some errands in Lebanon, we drove south on NH-120, taking our time as the sun set.  We noticed that the area had a lot more snow; the more we drove south, the deeper it got!  We first drove around in Meriden - they had some displays but they didn't seem to be as enthusiastic in the set-ups as they'd been for the Pumpkin People.  We got to go through an old covered bridge (Mollie liked that) and then drove west on back roads.  On the way to Plainfield Village, we kept our eyes open for moose in the woods (no luck).  We then headed towards home (via NH-12A) - we stopped to get dinner at KFC/Taco Bell.  At Mollie's recommendation (she'd researched online), we stopped to see the Lights Show at the Kilton Public Library in West Lebanon - it was pretty good!  Overall, not the most exciting evening, but Mollie seemed pleased that we made the effort.

Enfield, NH (USA)

Took a break from work today and visited a friend who works at the La Salette Shrine in Enfield.  After we were done (1100), I took a walk on a “marooned” section of the Northern Rail Trail (west from Mascoma Lakeside Park towards US-4).  It was clear and cool - the distance was perfect for getting some exercise before going back to my computer.

Grafton, NH (USA)

Bad weather cleared out at around noon today and left behind sun with 55ish temps!  I took a break from work and left the condo (1300) so I could take Mollie for some more miles on the Northern Rail Trail.  We used US-4 and parked at the old (closed) General Store in Grafton and headed towards Boston (1330).  It was another beautiful day for outside activity!  The trail in this area was mostly straight and flat but the recent rain had swollen the nearby creeks to overflowing - we got a little nervous watching the effects on the low ground below the track levee... We got good views of the mountains to the north (including Cardigan).  And there were lots of pretty farms and covered bridges to see.  Highlight of the day, though, was spotting a river otter!  He chattered at us a few times but kept ducking underwater - neither of us could get him on film. We walked to the town line (Grafton-Danbury) and then backtracked to the car (arrived at 1445).  We managed to log just under four miles on a beautiful December afternoon - what a nice surprise!  After we were done walking, I took Mollie on some gravel roads to the southwest and we made our way over to NH-4A.  Mollie was intent on looking for moose - she’s a woman on a mission: if you see one, let her know!  We drove all the way to to Springfield but were unsuccessful.  We then headed back towards Enfield (still nothing).  When we arrived back in Hanover, I decided to stop at Jesse’s so Mollie could try dinner there.  We sampled several of the entrees and appetizers and we had a lot in our “to go box” by the end.  Mollie told me she really enjoyed the restaurant and food.  We were back at the house by 1730 - very happy we got another nice day on the trail!

Enfield, NH (USA)

Mollie and I finished another section of the NRT on the west side of Enfield this evening.  We started our walk at around 1530 at the park-and-ride lot on US-4 (near NH-4A intersection) and walked around the northwest edge of Mascoma Lake.  It was another beautiful November evening!  It had been raining most of the day and there wasn’t much light but we had enough time to enjoy the views of the lakeside homes.  The nearly full moon made the scene even more serene.  Really glad we had a chance for another good walk - next time, we'll walk through Enfield Center!  After getting done with the NRT, we drove a short distance to the east (NH-4A) to see the Christmas Lights display at the La Salette Shrine (1700).  We weren't allowed to walk through the entire exhibit (some was closed for COVID-19) but we did have a chance to see some of the nativity sets from around the world.  There were a lot of people there and it was a bit brisk.  Some of our thoughts on this place were affected by our trip to the Shrine in Attleboro (MA).  Ultimately, though, we enjoyed the experience and were glad we made the trip!

Hanover, MA (USA)

Mollie slept until around 0930 - after she (and everyone else) was awake, we all ate a great breakfast.  We then helped clean up from the Thanksgiving meal.  Throughout the morning, we had some good conversations about family, COVID-19, politics and Christmas planning (Mollie and Ella wanted to cook a big meal for everyone).  In the afternoon, the entire family took a walk near Katie’s house (through some fields near the school).  We then ate lunch together and Katie gave us some snacks to take with us when we left.  Reluctantly, Mollie and I got on the road, departing Hanover, MA (or "Hanover South", as Mollie calls it now) by 1315...  We used the same route (in reverse) that we'd followed on the way south (MA-3, I-93, NH-3A and I-89) - this time, we encountered a lot of traffic in Boston.  The weather was much better, though.  We had a nice time listening to music on the way and I told Mollie more stories about my family and the city of Boston.  Mollie told me she really wanted to see a moose while she was in New Hampshire and I suggested she ask where to find them on the Upper Valley Facebook page (she did).  We arrived home to Hanover, NH (or "Hanover North", per Mollie) by 1600 and unpacked.  Mollie told me she was really glad that we went to see family for Thanksgiving.  Hopefully, we can return at around Christmas time!

Hanover, MA (USA)

For about a week, Mollie and I have been talking about whether we should head down to the Boston area to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family.  Last night, we had a breakthrough - Mollie said she wanted to go and I agreed that we's be really careful with COVID-19 rules.  At her request, I woke Mollie up at 0915 and we packed for our trip.  We got gas in Hanover, NH (1130) before leaving town and then got on the road (I-89), heading south.  Near Concord, we took a short detour (to avoid the toll) on MA-3 to reach I-93.  Along the way, we talked a lot about other Thanksgiving memories and decided we were very lucky to be able to spend this one with some family that lived nearby.  Despite some rain, we made good time - I was surprised by the quick drive through Boston on I-93 and easy transition (through Quincy) onto MA-3.  We did have some encounters with crazy drivers - wow, I don't miss seeing that on a daily basis!  By 1400, we’d reached Katie’s house in Hanover, MA.  Katie and John had just finished setting up for the afternoon meal (they'd hosted one in the morning too).  Mollie had fun helping to prepare the side dishes and was proud to contribute a pumpkin pie (we brought the one she’d made a few days before).  The other food Katie had cooked was amazing (as always) and everyone got stuffed during dinner.  We followed social distancing and mask wearing guidance throughout our visit and had a great time talking and laughing.  Afterwards, we rested and watched Thanksgiving Day parade, dog show and football on TV.  Brenna called (FaceTime) and we passed the phone around so she could talk to the family and see the food/fun.  In the evening, I took a walk with Katie and John while Mollie played “Among Us” with her cousins.  Later, the whole family played a game called “Fibbage” on TV.  We also watched Thanksgiving specials and comedy routines until it was time for me to go to bed (2200) - Mollie stayed up with her cousins until very late.  Very glad we made the trip!

Norwich, VT (USA)

It snowed a bit in the morning - our first real accumulation this year!  (I found out later that Mollie apparently missed most of it because she slept late...)  I'd planned to volunteer at Sacred Heart Church, helping with food prep for Thanksgiving meals.  I departed my condo by about 0645 and carefully made my way to Lebanon (the plows didn't seem to be ready to go, unfortunately, so I had a tough time going).   I arrived to find several other people already getting ready to start the massive food drive.  Our Knights of Columbus Council advertised that 2,000 meals would be made available to families in the Upper Valley for Thanksgiving (drive through or delivery).  By this morning, all of the meals were claimed!   In a community that probably only has 20,000 residents, that is pretty amazing.  Our fearless leader (Lenny) has coordinated several of these dinner operations but this year he definitely went above and beyond the normal routine of getting food and cash donations from businesses across the area, hiring cooks from the Cardigan School and soliciting assistance from members of the parish.  Clearly, the COVID-19 impact on normal family gatherings made this event much more popular.  The results of many weeks of planning were distilled into a concerted effort of meal package assembly this morning as the Knights and other volunteers gathered to help get everything ready.  Parishioners who had cooked a turkey (200!) at their home on Tuesday night brought the well-seasoned and savory birds (and baked goods) to the church parking lot - several of us then carried these items down to the Parish Hall.  There, many more volunteers began the difficult work of processing meat into trays for delivery.  The whole place smelled like Thanksgiving!  Other volunteers cut up hams, packaged rolls, diced veggies and organized the hundreds of pies and cakes.  I’ve never seen so much food in one room!  At one point, Lenny sent me on a last-minute mission to pick up some more hams in at Dan and Whit's (in Norwich, across the Connecticut River).  The experience of visiting that business opened my eyes even further to the huge support network that helped make such a dinner possible.  Back at the church, I worked at several stations within the meal prep chain, walked up and down many flights of stairs and met a lot of smiling people - everyone was so happy to be involved.  At one point, I had to do a survey of the food in the freezer truck and counted many dozens of trays with every “fixin’” you can possibly imagine for Turkey Day.  I had to leave after five hours (1200) to go back to work but was very glad to have been a small part of the huge effort that our church made to brighten the homes of people who live in our community.  I’m looking forward to hearing from the guys making all the deliveries tomorrow!

Woodstock, VT (USA)

I woke Mollie up at around 0900 and, after she got ready, we drove across the Connecticut River into Vermont.  I took her to visit the Quechee Gorge, the VINS Center (we checked out the ticketing process but didn't try to enter) and the Rockefeller Billings NPS site in Woodstock.  At the latter place, we encountered some COVID-19 restrictions and Mollie wasn’t able to get an NPS Passport stamp for her book.  Instead, we walked around the grounds for about an hour and saw some animals and pretty gardens.  Their gardens had been fenced in what must have been an effort to repel visitors - we just ignored them and got some steps in before continuing on our mildly bitter way. It’s just another place to visit once the pandemic is over, I guess. Other people must be thinking the same thing because there were hardly ANY visitors.  I didn't have any plans for the rest of the day but Mollie apparently did: we’d taken a picture of a Justin Morgan historical marker in Woodstock and this made her want to visit some related sites in the area.  After a quick search online, I figured out that we'd need to head north.  We left Woodstock on VT-12 and drove to Barnard (1125), where we got some lunch (sandwiches, chips, soda and a whoopie pie).  After eating lunch in the car, we drove north to Bethel and then to Randolph.  At the latter town, we found more historical markers and the gravestone of Justin Morgan.  We continued north (on gravel roads) in search of the site of the Morgan Farm.  Navigation became an issue due to the spotty cell signal, but we made it! It’s located just past a dairy farm ("Neighborly Farm"), where we ran into an annoyed little calf.  The historical marker had only been placed in July 2020, so it was a treat to see something so new.  The last stop of the day in Vermont was at the grave site of Justin Morgan’s horse, Figure, which was located a few miles away in Tunbridge, VT.  Once again, our navigation capabilities were limited, and the worn out signs didn’t help much. We initially drove about a half mile past Figure’s grave stone because it was tucked behind some trees. That mistake allowed us to see the plot of Lippitt Mandate, though, who we now know ("according to Mollie") is part of a subcategory of Morgan horses known as Lippitt Morgans that are more closely related to Figure than most of the breed. Having seen our fill, we headed back toward our side of the river.  After that, we drove back towards White River Junction on VT-110 and VT-14.  After crossing back into New Hampshire, we went shopping at Walmart (1410) and Price Chopper (1510), where we picked up groceries to prepare for a possible winter storm).  We also stopped to explore inside a big thrift store ("Listen") that interested Mollie.  We made it home just before 1600.  Mollie told me that she'd had a fun day and liked the land in Vermont - she added that she'd like to return for some more exploring when she visits next Summer. 

Plainfield, NH (USA)

While we were eating dinner in Lebanon last night, some of the other patrons told us about a hiking trail (“with a great view”) in the nearby town of Plainfield (village of Meriden) - Mollie and I decided we should check it out today.  Mollie slept until almost 1000 but got ready quickly and we were able to leave for Meriden soon afterwards.  We used NH-120 to get there and, on the way, we saw a few of the remaining Pumpkin People (most appeared to have been removed).  We parked at the Meriden Elementary School at 1115 so we'd be able to hike up to the French’s Ledges.  There were so many trails to choose from that we needed the map - fortunately, there were also many signs that showed the way.  After a 30 minute climb, we reached a rocky outcropping - from there, we could see Ascutney, Moosilauke and Killington.  It was amazing to see the 360 view of the Upper Valley towns nearby.  The weather was nice and there weren’t many people.  We tried some side trails on the way back to the car and met some locals with even more suggestions for things to do nearby.  At about 1245, we finished our hike and drove over to pick up lunch at Meriden Deli (1255).  Mollie liked the sandwiches we got there and I told her we could have many more "local" experiences like that if she wanted.  After eating our meal in the car, we drove to the town of Cornish (on gravel roads) so we could visit the Saint Gaudens NHS.  The weather was great and Mollie really liked the walk we did on the grounds.  By 1430, we were on our way back to the north (via NH-12A and some gravel roads along the Connecticut River).  As a treat, we stopped to buy some produce, a Christmas Centerpiece and a beeswax candle at Riverview Farm.  Mollie liked their dog and the friendly owners and didn't appear to want to leave anytime soon.  I convinced her that we needed to make our way towards home and she reluctantly agreed to go (1530).  While we were driving, Mollie told me that she’d done more with me in a week than she’d done at Nicky’s since August...  Back at my place (1630), we set out our new Christmas decorations and Mollie settled into my "comfy condo."  What a great November Saturday!

Enfield, NH (USA)

The weather was so nice today that I stopped working early and took Mollie on a drive to the eastern edge of Lebanon so we could go for a walk on the Northern Rail Trail.  Over the next hour, we walked from the parking lot at Riverside Drive on the edge of Lebanon to the outskirts of Enfield (near the Park & Ride at the US-4/NH-4A intersection).  The Mascoma River followed alongside us for a few miles and we stopped to watch the rushing water at several bridge crossings.  The weather was so great!  Temps were in the mid 50s when we started and then we were treated to an amazing red sky as the sun set.  Happy to be able to show Mollie a pleasant November evening in the Granite State!  We got back to our car just as it got dark and then drove into Lebanon, where we ate dinner at the Salt hill Pub (1700).  Mollie thought it was "cool" that we got to sit at the bar - I enjoyed this took when I realized it help us meet several nice local people who told us about outdoor activities nearby.  On the way home, I took Mollie on a scenic detour near the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hospital.  Mollie told me that she'd really been enjoying the chance to take evening walks near by condo each day.  Hopefully, there will be many more before the snow comes! 

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 14

I woke Mollie up at 0615 and we packed up our car.  We picked up breakfast (to go) and left Fort Belvoir at about 0700.  Mollie helped me navigate the route to the north (used Fairfax County Parkway, I-495, I-95, I-695, I-83 and I-81) and we had a great conversation all the way.  Mollie treated me to lunch at Wendy’s near Wilkes-Barre, PA (1045).  We then continued driving north on I-81 without much difficulty.  We called Brenna and she told us all about her good days doing her student teaching, visiting with Isaac, "Friendsgiving" with her roommates and her plan to go home to Alexandria for Thanksgiving.  Mollie and I switched to I-88 at Binghamton, NY and later stopped for gas in Rotterdam (1420).  Mollie again helped me navigate (via surface streets and NY-7, through Albany) to Troy.  Once we were on NY-7, Mollie told me she was interested in visiting the home in Danby, VT where I’ve sometimes stayed while hiking in Vermont.  I agred to take her there and, after we drove around the edge of Bennington and got on US-7, we arrived at Elizabeth's little house.  Mollie liked the little town but we didn't stay long - we were soon on our way north on US-7 again.  Mollie said she wanted to stop for food so I didn't turn east when I normally do.  Instead, we continued north towards Rutland.  The sun was just setting but rain was coming in fast - this made the drive a bit less fun.  We got some dinner at McDonalds in Rutland (1645) and then followed US-4 to I-89.  We made it to my home in Hanover by 1800 - this was a longer trip than I'd hoped for but we hadn't had any real difficulties.  Mostly, we'd just taken our time and enjoyed visiting together for the first time in a while.  We spent the evening unpacking and I got Mollie's new room ready for her (hopefully) multi-month stay.  Hard to believe that this trip started with hiking in the Georgia Mountains - seems like a completely different year now that I'm home again!

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 13

It was a beautiful (but chilly) day today!  Soon after I woke up, I went walking on the Base and ended up talking to a General, who was raking leaves in his yard.  I then got ready for a day out with my friends in Arlington and drove over to Stephanie's place (off Columbia Pike).  We walked together to William Jeffrey's Tavern, which opened at 1000.  Along with us, Kelly & John and Sabrina and Chavez were able to partake in the great brunch.  It was awesome to be able to spend several hours with everyone - some of them hadn't been out to a restaurant for a meal since COVID-19 started (!).  We played credit card roulette at the end of the meal (1500) and John lost - still, everyone thought the thrill of the game was fun.  Stephanie suggested that she and I go walking in Manassas - I agreed but had to take Sabrina home first.  We walked back to Stephanie's and then drove over to the Huntington area.  Sabrina asked us to stay for a drink and some snacks and we ended up talking on the patio until 1700 (no walk).  I then drove Stephanie home (we made plans to go on a hike another time).  I then drove to Nicky's (1800) so I could help her get packed for our drive back to New Hampshire the next morning.  At 1845, we went to have dinner at Panera (Kingstowne) - Erin eventually joined us and we had a nice time talking about work, school and other family news.  By 2000, Mollie and I went to Fort Belvoir and finished up some packing.  Did some reading in the late evening and got to bed relatively early (2200).  It's been a great trip!

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 12

Today was supposed to be mostly a work day (to make up some hours from the last two weeks).  I got up at 0545 and started teleworking.  At around 0730, I drove to the main building to get breakfast and then went to visit my Dentist to get my teeth cleaned (0800).  Erin had already dropped Mollie off there before I arrived, and I ended up spending a bunch of time working out her insurance details.  Plus, the dentist found that Mollie needed fillings.  I approved those but it took until almost 1000 for Mollie to be done.  She felt really bad so I took her home immediately.  She'd been planning to get her driver permit exam done later in the day (Erin was going to drive her) but I later learned that she didn't end up going (she was too sick).  Meanwhile, I was back in my hotel room teleworking.  At about 1600, I texted Erin and Mollie to see if they wanted to meet for the Food Truck event they'd mentioned earlier in the week.  However, they both said they didn't want to leave the house.  So I continued teleworking later than I'd planned - I didn't recoup as much time as I'd hoped but every little bit helped.  I verified my dinner availability with my friends, Kim & David and took a walk on the base just before it got dark.  On my way to Kim's, I got some gas at the Express (1815) and drove to Falls Church.  Kim wasn't home yet so David and I went into McLean to get food at Santini's.  Back at Kim & David's house, we met up with Kim and had nice dinner and conversation until 2100.  I then drove back to Fort Belvoir and read a bit before going to bed (2300).

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 11

This morning, I woke up at 0530 and started teleworking.  A few hours later, I took a break and went to Kingstowne to meet Erin for breakfast at La Madeleine (0745).  We had a nice time and stayed there for about an hour before she had to leave.  I gave her some mail (and other items) I'd brought from New Hampshire before driving back to my hotel.  I teleworked for another few hours there.  At 1130, I met Ashley C at Bonefish Grill in Kingstowne and we had lunch.  It was a nice visit and the restaurant was mostly empty.  By 1330, I was back in my hotel again and I made bunch of work calls, teleworking for much of the afternoon.  I was able to make plans with some friends who lived in the District and departed for Huntington Station at around 1530.  I took the Metro into DC (first time since March) and arrived at Dupont Circle without incident.  I had to do a bit of walking on 18th Street to reach Rachel's (1645), where I met baby Eloise.  We visited for almost an hour and then I heard from Sean G, who told me he could meet me for a drink.  He asked where I wanted to meet and Rachel recommended Jack Rose in Adams Morgan.  So I walked about five blocks north to the location and Sean got there about 10 minutes later (1800).  We were lucky that they let us sit inside because the rooftop was booked for a private event and we didn't have a reservation.  Sean told me that we'd both been there before (I didn't remember).  We enjoyed happy hour drinks and snacks and were later joined by Levi H - that kicked up the fun a bit!  Before I realized it, it was 2130 and I needed to get going so I wouldn't have trouble on the Metro.  Sean drove me back to L'Enfant in his amazingly fast car!  When I went into the Metro tunnel, I figured out that I had to wait almost 20 minutes for a train so I walked around to get some steps (it had been hard for a few days because of the rain).  Finally, the train arrived and took me home quickly.  After getting back to Huntington, I drove back to Fort Belvoir (it took a long time) and was in my room by 2245 (tired).  Went to bed about 20 minutes later - what a great day seeing friends!

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 10

As expected, it was a very rainy day.  I was awake by 0530, got packed and was on the road (I-81) just after 0630.  I stopped for a free Veterans Day breakfast at Denny's in Wytheville (0715) and was back on the road by 0800.  The weather made the drive very unpleasant - I had to leave Interstate to avoid traffic jams a few times (due to bad accidents).  I stopped at 0945 at Sheetz in Lexington to get a free Veterans Day sandwich (I saved it for later) and then continued north.  I was interested in stopping to get some exercise somewhere but, with rain coming down throughout the morning, there wasn’t much to see or do outside.  When I reached Raphine, however, I hought maybe it would be a good idea to stop at one of the historical landmarks I’ve passed (but never visited) over the years - for once, I wasn’t in too much of a hurry!  I quickly located the old buildings (1015) and then walked around on the grounds for about 30 minutes (with my golf umbrella).  The McCormick Farm celebrates a major technical and agricultural achievement: the invention of the mechanical reaper.  There were some signs that described the process and life of the inventor.  I also took a short walk on a nature trail nearby.  Didn't see anyone else the whole time I was there.  After finishing my break (1045), I got back on I-81 and followed it until I reached I-64 - then headed east.  I stopped for free Veterans Day lunch at Applebees in Waynesboro (1100).  While eating, I talked to Brenna and Mollie.  Across the street, I picked up a Veterans Day voucher (for a later free meal) from Golden Corral.  I was on the road again (still I-64) by 1145.  The weather cleared up while I was eating but then the fog got really heavy - as I crossed the Blue Ridge, it was VERY difficult to see where I was going!  I used Google Maps to take me on an overmountain route to I-95 and it suggested that I exit the Interstate near Charlottesville.  From there, I took US-520, VA-22, back roads, VA-3, more back roads and (finally) VA-3.  Just after I got back on the Interstate (I-95), I decided I should visit another Virginia State Park (fee free).  So, I exited the highway near Aquia and took lots of back streets (including a Telegraph Road) to reach Widewater State Park.  Just after I arrived, the rain let up temporarily and I was able to take a short walk in one of the newest State Park units (it’s only been open for about two years and, apparently, no one else knows about it).  From what I saw, it looked like a great place for kayaking, with two boat launches: one on the Aquia Creek side and one on the Potomac. There is a ghost ship area to explore on the Maryland side of the latter and an NWR nearby.  There were lots of trails and new picnic areas too - all remote and unknown to the public.  Decided that this place would be somewhere I'd definitely frequent if I still lived nearby...  I was probably the only visitor for the hour (plus) that I was there (1400 to 1515).  Resumed by journey (back roads to I-95) and had to endure the usual slow down near Occoquan.  However, reached US-1 without much trouble.  Checked into my hotel room at Fort Belvoir by 1615 and was soon unpacked.  Even though I could have relaxed for a bit, I decided to get back in the car and head over to Mission BBQ to pick up a free Veterans Day sandwich (1700).  While eating there, I talked to Mollie about meeting up with her.  By 1730, I was at Nicky's (Mollie said she wanted to go shopping with me).  I got to meet her new puppy (Pippen) and saw Bear.  Erin was also there and we had fun visiting for a while.  Mollie and I went to Giant and got supplies for my house (several things on sale) and were rewarded with a Veterans Day discount (1810).  While at Kingstowne Centre, we double checked on hours for the restaurants I wanted to visit over the next few days.  I got a free Veterans Day coffee at Starbucks (I gave it to Mollie) and we also visited the Dunkin Donuts at Manchester but they had run out of free Veterans Day donuts.  Despite this, I had an extremely successful day seeking Veteran's Day discounts!  Mollie told me she didn't want to go home yet because she rarely got to explore in the evening, so we drove over to St. Lawrence to see the completed Narthex, then explored a bit in the Huntington and Hybla Valley areas.  We circled back to Nicky's (arriving at around 1915) and I visited some more with Erin and the dogs.  I then went back to Fort Belvoir (arrived at 0815) and talked to my dad on the phone.  Spent the rest of the evening organizing things in my room, reading and relaxing.  Bed time was at 2230.

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 9

The great weather followed me north to Erwin, TN, where I stayed last night.  This put me only eight miles from the AT and gave me the option of completing my last “marooned” section in the South.  The hike was going to involve climbing/descending (times two!) another 5K’ peak (my fourth in four days) so I had mixed emotions about the effort required...   Still, I was glad to have the opportunity to hike.  I woke up at 0545 but didn't rush to get ready.  Instead, I actually ate breakfast (provided by management on the sly).  Brenna called to tell me about how things were going at her school and we talked for a little while.  I checked out of the hotel (0730) and drove to Indian Grave Gap (TN-107).  Actually, I was annoyed about the section because it wouldn’t have been cut off at all if the gate for the Unaka Mountain Road wasn’t always closed.  In over six years of visiting Indian Grave Gap Trailhead, though, I’d never seen it open.  That changed today - I arrived at the beginning at around 0745 and was so excited/relieved to see the gate open that I had to remind myself repeatedly to take it easy on the low-clearance Altima as I climbed the steep gravel road.  The alternative to this bonus prize was to hike an extra two miles before being able to count new AT miles.  I found the place where I’d turned around the last time I’d climbed the hill (Beauty Spot) and was hiking NOBO by 0800.  Temps were in the low 60s already but you’d never know it - the overcast was being blown through by a strong wind and there was almost no cover.  I reluctantly wore my light jacket (which felt too warm) buy was glad I had it after I started my climb.  Before that, though, I encountered a problem - as I descended from the trailhead, I realized that I had parked a lot farther from the base of Unaka Mountain than the map showed I should be.  It was then that I realized I’d incorrectly recorded the mileage of the last turn point.  End result: at least one extra mile (in each direction) - now I was REALLY glad I had access to the road!  There was no use crying over spilled milk so I kept going and soon found myself powering up the southeastern side of Unaka Mountain.  The clouds were thick and damp - I spent a lot of time in the mist and it really cooled down my body temps.  The AT crisscrossed the NC/TN border continuously - I never knew which state I was in except in a few places where North Carolina had identified their Game Lands.  There were no views.  Just before the summit, I encountered a lady backpacker and her dog (they’d spent the night on the mountain).  We chatted briefly and then I resumed my hike.  Soon, I found myself in the midst of a dense spruce forest that seemed to go on for miles - it was like something out of a horror movie!  It took a while, but I eventually came out of the trees and fog and found some sunshine on the northeastern side of the mountain.  But then I descended almost 1500 feet into Low Gap - it was quite depressing to know that I’d have to reclimb all of that...  At this point, I realized that my pedometer appeared to be working for once and that my estimate of an extra mile was pretty close - I was able to predict, within about 0.2 miles, where the Cherry Gap Shelter (my turnaround point) would be.  I was planning to start the backtrack immediately but encountered a SOBO Thru Hiker (no flip flopping or COVID-19 breaks).  I really wanted to talk to him and have a hiking buddy but he seemed to want his solitude.  So I took a shortcut back to the AT and headed towards the car.  Meanwhile, the Thru hiker actually walked back to the place where he’d left the trail before stopping...  For the next few miles, he hung back about 50 yards and I could see him each time we swapped directions on the switchbacks.  Eventually (1000 feet into the climb?), I stopped to let him go by and he promptly disappeared into the rhododendron tunnels in front of me.  By then, though, I was exhausted and walked quite slowly all the way to the spruce forest.  The clouds had dissipated and I did get to see some views on the way back down Unaka.  One landmark - a huge field on the opposite peak - looked like something I’d crossed through in the morning.  But it looked so far away (and so high above the valley below) that I couldn’t convince myself it was my destination.  But it was...  The only thing to lift my spirits at that point, though, was when a mom with a baby on her back, along with their loyal Lab, passed me going uphill - it was smiles and waves all around. When I reached the bottom of the valley, I found that the gravel road was only about 20 feet away so I cut over there to walk the rest of the way.  I passed the Thru hiker one more time (he was taking a break and seemed more talkative but now I wasn’t).  The road took a decidedly steep direction and I had to use all of the rest of my strength to get to the top.  It got busy during this time, with three cars passing me and two cyclists following me on the hill.  It was funny that I, the pedestrian, was able to stay in front for a while (one of the bikers told me he wished we had a string so I could pull him).  Before long, however, I was alone again and soon finished up my day (1315).  It was tough to tell from the maps and pedometers but I’m pretty sure I walked about 12 miles - it may also have been the hardest hike of the last week.  But I’m glad I finished the section!  Changed clothes and backtracked to Erwin.  Bought late lunch at McDonalds (1345) and decided to eat in the parking lot (took care of texts, emails).  Later, drove north on I-26 to I-81 and continued into Virginia.  Got gas at Love's in Meadowview (1600) and drove a bit farther, checking into the Travel Inn in Marion by 1645.  Talked to the owners (they remembered me) about the impacts of COVID-19 on their business.  Spent the evening cleaning, re-packing, organizing.  Did some telework (to catch up on things I missed for the last several days) and then made some phone calls (kids, Bonnie M).  Before bed at 2300, I read for a while.  It’s supposed to rain in the morning but the timing couldn’t be better - I’ve got to leave the hiking zone anyway.  Perfect week in the Smokies and Blue Ridge - what a great trip!  AT Today = 4.8 miles / G.T. AT = 1766.8 miles / AT Left = 418.5 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 8

I was up early (0630) and spent some time getting organized.  Ate breakfast (leftovers) in the room and then spent a little more time reading (didn't feel like rushing out of the warm room).  My reposition yesterday put me only 20 miles from one of the highest sections, elevation-wise, on the AT.  Between US-441 (Newfound Gap) and the Clingman’s Dome parking lot, the trail climbs and descends within a band of 5.5K’ and 6.5K’ and the elements up there can be quite unpredictable.  Fortunately, today’s weather looked good enough for me to hike it.  So I got ready and left Cherokee (0815), hoping for a great day on the trail.  I headed north on US-441 and then took Clingman’s Dome Road until I located a place where the AT intersected a pull-out parking lot.  I found signs for the Road Prong Trail there and got ready to go (0900).  Just as I was getting ready to start (SOBO), a serious looking young hiker lady came out of the woods and stopped to chat.  I learned that she was finishing her last 200 miles of a 2020 Thru Hike (interrupted at Franklin by COVID-19 while headed north in the Spring, she restarted from Maine in the Summer).  She was headed the same way as I was but left me in the dust in just a few minutes after I started my climb behind her.  After that, I only saw two other hikers all day: a young lady LASHer (Harpers to Springer) who was going the same way I was (we leap-frogged during breaks) and a brightly dressed trail runner (guy) who raced by me towards the north.  I could hear the road most of the time, though, and it was clear that the great weather had brought a LOT of visitors to GSMNP!  Like I had experienced the last few days, the high elevations were susceptible to being cloud-covered - today was no different.  Temps had been in the mid 50s when I started but there was a strong, steady and cool wind blowing throughout the day - I had two layers initially but dropped one as the sun’s warmth began to balance out the wind (isn’t there a fable about that?).  In some places, the ground was covered with a light layer of moisture - I probably just missed some actual rain.  But the clouds rolled out through the morning and I soon started to get some great views on both sides of the ridgeline.  The tower at Clingman’s Dome was visible a few times - it was quite daunting to see how much I had to climb...  This was especially true in a few places where I had to descent a few hundred feet.  For most of the morning, I got views of the trail and forest that reminded me of hikes in the White Mountain’s this year - alpine is alpine everywhere, I guess!  The AT crossed back and forth across the NC-TN border the whole time I was walking and I was never sure about my current State.  Despite the challenging terrain, I felt good as I clambered up and down - I didn’t even use my trekking poles for much of the day.  Cautiously, though, I kept watching for unusual signs of fatigue (for the altitude) but didn’t notice any.  All the trail signs were so mossed over that it was hard to track my forward progress (distance wise) but it was unmistakable, once I reached the tower, that I’d made very good time on the outbound.  I didn’t tarry (large crowds there) and quickly headed back towards the car.  I’d noticed a few places where the road got close to the AT so I took advantage of this opportunity and swapped rocks and roots for pavement.  This decision worked great for my pace and I was happy to be in the sun.  I’m not sure all the drivers coming up the mountain liked me being there, though, because there wasn’t very much shoulder.  All told, I probably walked about four miles on the blacktop (big climb initially but then downhill) and reached my car by 1330 after a bit less than 12 miles.  I felt REALLY good and thought about doing another few miles.  But it was getting more and more crowded in the park and I wanted to tackle an “orphaned” section in Tennessee the next day so I departed ASAP (this was good because the conga line of cars going back to Cherokee with me was LONG).  Got to see a huge elk herd at Occonoluftee and then headed east towards Asheville.  Have to say that I’m pretty proud to squeeze in the section on November 9 - last year, there was snow and <30 degree temps in the area and that would not have been pleasant.  I’ve been very blessed with weather this week - hoping for at least one more day of it...  After getting cleaned up, I backtracked to Cherokee from GSMNP.  Then took US-19 and US-74 to reach I-40.  Used I-240/I-26 to continue north - stopped at a rest area to make reservations.  By 1615, I'd checked into the Super 8 in Erwin, TN.  Rested, cleaned up and then drove a short distance to get dinner at Taco Bell in Erwin (1740).  Talked to Mollie again - she was getting excited to see me and was making plans to return to New Hampshire with me.  Spent the rest of the night reading and relaxing in the room.  Went to bed at 2230.  A great day!  AT Today = 6.0 miles / G.T. AT = 1762.0 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 7

Woke up early, ate breakfast (leftovers) in the room, packed up and left the hotel at 0730.  Headed out of Franklin (maybe for the last time?), using US-64 to reach the Standing Indian Campground area.  Took USFS-67 (seven miles of gravel) to reach the trailhead for the Betty Creek Gap Trail - had to cross a stream (driving through it) and dodge some cars that were descending from the ridge on the narrow road. I’d previously determined that it was only a 0.2 mile walk to the AT from there and that brightened the prospects for finishing the last section of the trail I had left in the area.  I headed into the woods at 0815 and was very quickly hiking SOBO on the AT.  Temps were in the mid 50s but weather was overcast, windy and damp (sprinkles) - I wore a light jacket initially to ward off the elements but soon removed it. Passed four young people camping at Betty Creek Gap but never saw the trio of guys from the previous two days.  The first half of the day involved a climb up Ridgepole Mountain.  The AT crossed the 5000 foot peak just a hundred feet below  the summit (no side trail to crack 5K, unfortunately) - it wasn’t as tall as Standing Indian but I still found myself walking inside a dense cloud.  The wind was really strong but, fortunately, the trail followed the ridge on the leeward side.  The AT got really close to the Georgia border in this area but I don't think I left North Carolina...  I encountered the backpacking couple I’d seen on the previous two days - we all laughed at how they kept seeing me everywhere they went.  Found someone’s backpack (covered with a tarp) near the summit - I’m sure there is an interesting story connected to that...  No views from the top but that made it easier to keep going.  Made really good time on the way downhill - I did have to navigate around a huge tree blowdown area (yikes).  Oh - and there were LOTS of roots!  Otherwise, I was going so fast that I completely missed one of my navigational checkpoints: Coleman Gap.  I had planned to use my (rather unreliable) pedometer to count off the last half mile but I ended up having to rely on deja vu again to find my turnaround point (a stream in a little “hollow”).  Fortunately, I’d taken a photo where I started the backtrack yesterday - I was able to line up rocks, twigs and leaves (no kidding: they didn’t move in 24 hours) to verify I was in the right place.  I started my backtrack immediately and found the sign for the gap I’d missed on the way back.  The sun came out for a little bit and I started to get views from the ridgeline - it was a bit nostalgic to be able to see all the peaks and valleys I’d traversed in over six years worth of visits...  Passed more hikers on the way back: group of four young backpackers (I wondered later if they might be the kids I’d last seen in Maine but we’ll never know); two guys out for a weekend overnight; and two solo guy backpackers who were all business and no chit-chat.  Otherwise, I was alone and enjoyed the solitude.  After a few days on the trail, my legs were feeling pretty good.  As a result, I made excellent time, arriving back at my car at 1300 after almost 12 miles.  It wasn’t the completion of a state but it’s still a big milestone - I don’t have any more AT left south of the Smokies.  After finishing, I changed clothes and started down the mountain.  Had to dodge cars again on the narrow, gravel road to reach US-64.  Headed back towards Franklin and made an internet stop (to make reservations for the night).  I also ate some food I had in the car - a late lunch (or early dinner).  Since future hikes south of Virginia will center in the area of Max Patch (southeast of Newport, TN), so I decided to head in that direction (with a detour through the Smokies).  Used US-64/US-23 to US-441 (and US-74) to reach Cherokee.  Then took US-19 for a short distance until I was able to find the Rodeway Inn, where I'd reserved a room.  I checked in at 1530 - they gave me an upgraded room (suite with river view)!  I cleaned up for about an hour and then got a phone call from Mollie.  We talked for a while and then I rested, read and journaled.  Before bed at 2330, I watched some movies on my phone.  Hoping for a nice hike in good weather tomorrow! AT Today = 5.8 miles / G.T. AT = 1756.0 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 6

After wearing myself out yesterday, I had to think long and hard about the route for today.  One option was to Backpack (out and back) the entire ~12 miles I had left in the area and camp overnight when I didn’t complete the backtrack before dark.  Another option was to Backpack via the 25 mile “Kimsey Loop”, which would limit me to only one ascent of Standing Indian Mountain (5.5k’) but would require more distance.  I chose a third alternative: a day hike with light pack and two climbs of the mountain.  Hoped this would allow me to go faster, minimize the distance and eliminate the camping.  Slept a bit later than normal but still managed to leave the hotel by 0730.  Got breakfast in Franklin at McDonalds (0745) and then drove west on US-64.  Used the narrow, treacherous USFS-71 to reach the AT trailhead and was parked by 0830.  My “early bird” behavior paid off - the main lot was already full but there was room in the overflow.  Headed NOBO and immediately started a 1500 foot climb.  The temps were in the 40s, initially, and I stuck with a short sleeved shirt, since sun and 70s was forecasted.  Within an hour, though, it was clear that the weather-guessers were wrong - I found myself in an actual cloud (with rain!) when I passed 5000 feet!  I soon realized then that I’d forgotten my poncho when I repacked light...  Visibility was very low - this was disappointing, since the reward for climbing a mile high peak is usually the view.  On the plus side, I was pleasantly surprised by the many long switchbacks that took me uphill - the “AWOL” guide had made me think I’d be on steep terrain but it was rather gradual.  I only saw two people (backpacking couple) during this climb and they reported that the weather got worse near the summit.  This ended up being true so I raced past the sign on top and tried to get back out of the cloud.  There were more long switchbacks on the way down the east side of Standing Indian, so it took a while to get dry.  When I could see farther than 100 feet again, I encountered three hikers - two of them were guys I’d passed yesterday (they’d swapped out a friend).  They told me how much the climb after I’d seen them 24 hours previously had sucked (again validating my decision to hike downhill).  We swapped stories about the trail and it was nice to hear about their pursuit of the same goal (section hike the AT).  Small World: one guy was a ND NROTC alum - we didn’t know each other previously but had some mutual friends.  After we talked for a while, the guys told me they weren’t ready to go yet.  So I said goodbye for the moment, knowing I’d see them again when I turned around.  On the way downhill, I passed several more people (most resting at Beech Gap) and noticed more familiar faces from yesterday’s hike.  I kept going until I reached what looked like a prominent landmark - there was a stream noted in my trail guide and I wondered if it was the correct one.  Because I wasn’t sure and felt good, I decided to keep going - and soon found another stream!  Confused, I asked for help from hikers coming up behind me.  It took five of us, all comparing guides, GPS coordinates and pedometers, to determine that I’d reached my target.  It was actually fun to work as a team and I (once again) wished I was going with the crowd as they waved goodbye and headed north.  Maybe I’ll see them again tomorrow...  Soberly, I walked back towards my car and started encountering even MORE people - most were serious backpackers (including some I’d seen the day before) but there were also a few day hikers with no gear.  This was probably because the weather had improved significantly and the views were already amazing (I shuddered to think about how full the parking lot must be).  My climb went quite well - I never got winded and my energy level was consistent throughout.  About the only thing that made the day difficult was the number of rocks near the peak.  Due to a crowd at the summit, I skipped the vista and started downhill again - found a better viewpoint about a half mile later and marveled at how different the conditions were.  The sun never really came out but it was drier and warmer (low 60s).  The downhill went quickly - my pedometer was screwed up again (it’s usually been really good but has sucked two days in a row) and I really didn’t know how far I had left until I passed a shelter (one mile from the car).  Passed even MORE people and was really glad I was almost done!  When I reached the car at 1400 (after almost 13 miles), I found the overflow parking lot packed with cars.  Overall, I probably encountered 40-50 other humans during my hike (booo)!  Conversely, I realized that I haven’t seen any animals (not even squirrels) in three days - perhaps they are all hiding from the visitors (or hunters)...  Got on the road immediately and encountered several cars on the way down the mountain.  Drove back to Franklin and got a huge feast from Bojangles (1455).  Checked back into the Hilltop Inn (1500) and spent some quality time soaking in the tub.  Talked to Mollie on the phone for a bit.  Ate dinner in my room and then spent the rest of the evening resting and reading.  Felt pretty good after getting more AT miles and am positioned to complete my last section south of Great Smoky Mountains NP (hopefully tomorrow).  Headed to sleep by 2300, looking forward to a good night's rest on a soft bed!  AT Today = 6.4 miles / G.T. AT = 1750.2 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 5

Prior to my drive to Franklin this week, I'd tried to hire my "regular" shuttle driver (Ron) to give me a ride from Dick's Creek Gap in Georgia to Deep Creek Gap (off of USFS-71) in North Carolina.  Unfortunately, Ron was unavailable - he recommended a driver named Beverly, who agreed to give me the ride I wanted.  I then requested leave from my company and planned (i.e., packed a full backpack) for a possible overnight stay on the AT.  Late last night, Beverly asked if she could pick me up later than our planned rendezvous (0900) and then drive to Winding Stair Gap to pick up someone else.  I respectfully declined this offer and asked if she could meet an hour earlier (she agreed).  As a result, I woke up at 0615 this morning, packed the car and checked out of the hotel - I didn't want to be late.  Stopped to get breakfast at McDonalds in Franklin (0700) and then drove (via US-441) to Clayton and then US-76 to Dick's Creek Gap (arrived at 0750).  Beverly was there a little early and we quickly departed, driving west on US-76 (via Hiawassee) before heading north into North Carolina.  She was a really scary driver!  During most of the drive, we went off the side of the road a few times but she never slowed down at all.  She kept mentioning her bad eyesight and had a lot of really negative things to say about the local area.  On top of the unpleasant nature of the ride, though, she decided to stop for gas before we reached the trailhead - this further delayed us.  Still, I was able to rationalize the whole thing because the shuttle ride was almost a requirement due to the inaccessibility of the middle of the giant “mirrored S” shaped AT section.  Plus, the route was going to be almost 16 miles - a lot of work without a shuttle.  I decided I really couldn't complain about getting the help - I tried to be nice and keep my mind off the steep edge of the Forest Service Road and we made it safely.  I got started on my hike at 0900, carrying a backpack because I wasn’t sure I could finish in one day.  The weather was awesome - temps started in mid 40s, warmed up to 70 and there were almost no clouds.  I immediately climbed a hill that gave me great views of the 5.5K’ Standing Indian peak (I still have to climb it).  From there, my stomach butterflies settled down (I'd had those all morning) and I got to work.  I'd initially chose SOBO because it was mostly a descent - there were a few challenging climbs but the terrain map showed that I was generally going to be walking downhill.  This turned out to be true!  The AT flirted with the NC/GA almost all day and I could see the descending peaks on their way down towards the Hiawassee for most of the time.  The impact of the obvious (and visible) terrain gradient was expressed by the 18 people I passed on their way north (family of six, four solo Flip-Floppers, three backpacking couples and two guys my age who were shuttling in the opposite direction) - they made comments like “is the climb almost done?”  This confirmed I’d made the correct decision on direction.  I could imagine that many Thru hiker dreams have been crushed during the climb...  My pedometer fouled up somehow so my expectations of when I would hit specific landmarks was wrong (by almost two miles at the end) all day.  This had a net positive effect - I thought I had farther to go than I actually did and got a happy thrill each time I passed one of the gaps (indicated with a sign) or shelters.  I was treated to spectacular views on both sides of the narrow ridge I followed all day - I didn’t bother to take blue-blazed side trails because I already had it so good!  Anticipation was high on reaching the border (so I could log the last 8.5 miles of Georgia).   Was quite pleased, therefore, when I got to Bly Gap (near border crossing sign) and realized I was going to finish almost an hour earlier than I’d planned. My spirits were raised for most of the second half of the hike (although some of the climbs brought me right down to earth as I struggled uphill).  I passed two sets of older couples (same direction, in the last three miles) who had set out from US-76, where I was parked, to see the views (they were headed back).  I managed to get a cell signal around this point and realized (I checked a few times) that the last part of my AT section was a “C” shape - I remained within two miles of my car as I hiked more than two miles (arcing around the gap on the ridge).  Ran out of water at around this point - that elevated concerns a bit...  However, I was also treated to a cooling breeze - it dried off my sweaty clothes and cooled me down.  I could hear the traffic on the highway for the last hour but I couldn’t see the road until I was right on top of it - again, the surprise was a great bonus.  Was finished just after 1600, meaning I’d walked nearly 16 miles (retread on 0.4 I did back in 2014) in about 7 hours.  In the end, the backpack wasn’t needed but it had given me peace of mind throughout the day.  A bit tired, a little sore but overall elated at finishing this section.  The whole day was kind of amazing to comprehend: I'd started the day in North Carolina (Franklin), drove south into Georgia (Dick’s Creek Gap on Towns County line) to meet my shuttle, rode with Beverly back into North Carolina (Deep Creek Gap on USFS-71), hiked the AT back into Georgia and then drove back to North Carolina for the night - whew!  End result: I finished the AT in Georgia!  I was hungry too - after getting changed and settled in my car, I ate the rest of my Subway sub.  I backtracked to Franklin and checked into the Hilltop Inn again (1715).  Later in the evening, I ate dinner (snacks), rested, read, relaxed in my room.  After texting the girls to give them another heads up about possible overnights on the trail, I went to bed (2230).  Weather is supposed to be good for the next few days - hope to make the most of that!  AT Today = 15.4 miles / G.T. AT = 1743.8 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 4

When I got up (early again) this morning, I confirmed that the spectacular weather forecast (sunny and warm by the weekend) was still on track - couldn’t believe my luck!  As expected, though, the temps were in the 30s this morning so I teleworked for a few hours (between 0600 and 0800).  After leaving the hotel, I got gas at the HotSpot in Franklin (0805) and ate breakfast inside the McDonalds (0810) nearby.  It was interesting to be in yet another place where masks appear to be voluntary - only one in ten are wearing them (to each his own, I guess).  I was on the road by about 0830 and headed west on US-64 until I reached the Standing Indian Campground area.  I had made two hiking plans because previous visits have taught me that road access to the AT along the GA/NC border isn’t always guaranteed...  Fortunately (for the first time on any of my visits to Western NC), I found that the gravel road to Albert Mountain was actually open (!) and was able to skip a four mile side trail hike.  I drove up USFS-67, a route I’d previously walked (gate closed) in March, until I reached the intersection of USFS-83.  The road was pretty good (had to ford one stream with three inch water) and my rental car (Altima) successfully reached the AT Trailhead at Mooney Gap by 0930.  After looking at my “AWOL” AT Guide, it appeared that a short hike to the south would allow me to access a side trail that would take me back to the Forest Service road - from there, I could walk on gravel (towards Albert Mountain) to reach Bearpen Gap.  This would make the route into a loop - much better than my normal out and back.  Of course, I didn’t know how long the side trail was without going down to check...  With a plan that seemed workable, I headed SOBO (two layers).  Even though most of the leaves had fallen in the area, I still got the treat of walking through a few rhododendron tunnels.  After just under a mile, I reached Betty Creek Gap and discovered I’d gotten lucky again - the side trail was only 0.2 miles long (I did have to cross a bridgeless stream but didn’t fall in)!  My walk from there was pretty easy - a slight climb on the gravel but warmer from the bright sun.  An unplanned benefit of the Loop was that I could see the Fire Tower on Albert Mountain for almost an hour.  I almost thought about climbing up there again, the weather was so nice!  Decided not to deviate from my timeline, though...  Got a bit disoriented when I encountered the AT (paralleling the road) earlier than I expected. I didn’t see the “Bearpen Gap Trail” sign and it took a bit of time to convince myself that I needed to keep climbing the hill to find familiar landmarks.  Eventually, I located the sign and deja vu clues I recognized and transitioned back to the AT.  I was on the lower ridge of Albert Mountain and this treated me to amazing views of the North Georgia Mountains to the Southeast.  The sun was warm enough (low 50s?) by then that I layered down and enjoyed the steady descent.  I encountered two older guys and, later, a solo young guy (all section hikers).  They had great trail intel for the 12ish miles I nearby that I hope to finish this week.  Before it seemed like enough time had passed (1145), I reached my car again - I’d walked almost 5 miles and felt really good!  I left for Franklin immediately and was later glad that I had because I encountered several vehicles on the way down the narrow road - I’m sure many more came later because of the wonderful weather...  Back at my room, I spent several more hours teleworking.  I took a break at 1645 so I could buy lunch for the following day at Subway.  I then stopped at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company and had two drinks (Wild Love Story, Ambling Amber).  It was nice (but a bit chilly) to sit outside and I stayed until 1725.  Feeling relaxed, I went back to telework until I had finished my eight hours.  I texted all three girls to let them know where I was planning to hike the following day and added that I might camp overnight (Erin and Mollie told me to have fun and be careful).  Managed to finish up an important project so I'd be able to "play" again tomorrow - very glad to have a shot at some more trail miles!  Before bed, I packed for the following day and then did some reading.  Was fast asleep by 2300.  AT Today = 2.2 miles / Grand Total AT = 1728.4 miles / AT Left = 456.9 miles

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 3

Was awake very early again and teleworked in my room until the time I'd planned on meeting Brenna for breakfast - I walked next door to the Chick-fil-A at 0720.  Because the dining room was closed (due to COVID-19), we ate in Brenna's car and talked about school and the election results.  Brenna brought me back to my hotel at 0750 and I resumed teleworking.  After an early morning meeting was done (0900), I checked out of the hotel and got on the road (I-81).  While driving, I participated in almost three hours of meetings.  This made the drive go a lot quicker, although I had to stop a few times to make sure I could actively participate.  Got lunch at Arbys in Dublin, VA (1210) and then drove south on I-81 for a bit longer.  I got off near the town of Draper and looked for one of the New River Trail State Park trailheads - I found one at around 1300 and ate my lunch there while wrapping up my meetings.  I then took a walk (to the south) on the rail trail.  The weather was beautiful and I got almost four miles of walking done in a little more than an hour.  Afterwards, I got on the road again (still I-81) and continued south.  I had one more work call at 1500 and then was undistracted while I drove the rest of the way, via I-81, I-26, I-240, I-50, US-74 (Great Smoky Mountains Expressway), US-23 and US-441.  I arrived in Franklin, NC at around 1800 and stopped at my usual lodging place (Budget Inn) - I immediately noticed that it had been renamed "Hilltop Inn."  Fortunately, the same nice family was still running it (the owner explained that the sign had fallen down, allowing him to choose a new name). As usual, I was able to check into a room quickly - this allowed me to telework for a few more hours.  I also ate dinner (snacks) and then spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies on my phone.  I also exchanged a lot of texts with the girls - they had a lot of things to tell me about their winter plans.  Went to bed at 2200, excited to be in the hiking zone!

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 2

Got up very early and did some telework before leaving the hotel (0645).  It was a bright, sunny day!  I used I-81 all the way through Harrisburg and had a bunch of work calls (ran from 0815 to 1145) on the way.  It was Election Day and I saw lots of Trump support (big trucks with signs near road and on overpasses, airplane towing banners, flag waving fans, yard signs) in central Pennsylvania.  At one point, I got off I-81 and went in search of breakfast - this turned out to be lots of wasted time.  Eventually got food at Burger King in Shippensburg, PA (0840) and then got back on I-81.  Put some gas in the tank (hoping for cheaper prices to the south) at Sheetz in Williamsport, MD (0920).  A bit later, stopped at rest area (just after entering Virginia) so I could take notes during one of the meetings.  Continued driving again just after noon.  Since Brenna was still at school I decided to take a break near Woodstock to visit one of the State Park units that I'd passed many times in my travels.  After a bit of driving on back roads (including single lane bridges) to the east of town, I located one of the newer parks in the system: Seven Bends.  I first parked at the Bass Bight area (off Hollingsworth Road), arriving at a (relatively deserted) trailhead there at around 1215.  Used REI receipt for free entry and then spent some time walking along a branch of the Shenandoah River - there were a series of trails but they all had a lot of mud.  So I decided to backtrack to where I'd crossed the river.  I parked again and walked around along the river (near the entrance to a winery).  It was very peaceful and the weather was nice.  I discovered a rickety suspension bridge while I was walking - because there weren't any signs that indicated that the bridge couldn't be used normally, I started across it (to try to reach the other side of the river).  About 15 steps onto the bridge, though, I turned back due to the unsettling swaying motion.  I learned later (from the internet) that this bridge (and others like it in the area) was added so residents and visitors can escape the rising waters if there is ever a flood (yikes).  After getting in a bunch of steps in this area, I headed back towards town in search of one of the other park units (Lupton Unit).  There were a lot more people there, accessing a major set of trails, so I avoided them by parking close to the entrance.  From there, I walked around in some fields and near historic looking buildings.  Like at the Bass Bight area, the weather was very nice and I enjoyed exploring the pretty views of the river there.  Got back on the road (1300), feeling refreshed!  Used back roads to reach I-81 and continued south to Harrisonburg, arriving just before 1400.  I checked into the Econolodge and then teleworked in my room for almost two hours.  Made several calls with Brenna to set up meeting (she was student teaching at her school).  I ended up picking up Brenna at 1545 and we drove (via US-33) to Shenandoah National Park.  We decided to take a short drive on Skyline Drive (to the south) so we could find some overlooks and short trail walks.  This scenic drive yielded good results: we stopped a few times for photos (and to look at the "ice waterfalls").  After enjoying the views at at Bacon Hollow Overlook, we decided to backtrack to Smith Roach Gap, where we parked and walked on a backwoods trail on Hightop Mountain.  Headed back to my car after reaching the park boundary (around two miles of walking).  We then walked for a short section of AT.  Brenna got some good pictures of the sun setting and commented on how much she enjoyed the hike.  She added (and I agreed) that being outside was a great way to reduce the stress of Election Day.  After that, we drove north to the park exit and headed west on US-33.  We stopped for dinner at Romano's Italian Bistro in the little town of McGaheysville (on US-33) and enjoyed a delicious meal (starting at 1745).  Our conversation was great - it seemed like forever since I'd been able to visit with Brenna!  We'd avoided results of the election for most of the day but then news started to trickle in.  Because she had some homework, I took Brenna back to her house at around 1900.  I gave her some mail (and other items) I'd brought from New Hampshire and then went back to the hotel (1945).  I teleworked for a couple of more hours and, throughout the evening, checked the internet for information about the Election.  Brenna and I called and texted in the late evening about plans for breakfast the following morning. I ended up staying awake until 2330 and then went to bed.

Georgia Hiking Trip - Day 1

My work schedule and the weather seemed conducive for me to take another AT hiking trip so I set up my leave for the first two weeks of November.  Today, I teleworked in the morning and early afternoon and then finished my packing.  After getting my rental car (delivered to my condo), I left on my trip.  I got gas at Irving in Lebanon (1445) and then used I-89 to reach I-91.  In Vermont, I found a radio station that had some talk radio and this kept me entertained while the cell signal wasn't very good.  After crossing into Massachusetts, I called Brenna and we talked for about an hour - this was much more interesting than the radio!  I continued on I-91 until I got to to I-84 (Hartford) and then headed west.  It soon got dark and I noticed that my normal "tolerance" for aggressive drivers had lapsed in the last few months.  I called Mollie and this conversation kept me from being tired while I was driving.  Kept hitting traffic (probably related to "rush hour" in a few places)...  Got dinner at Taco Bell near US-7 in Danbury (1800) and then continued into New York.  During the time I was on I-84, I encountered LOTS of deer!  After switching to I-81 in Scranton, I drove south to Hazelton.  Since it had worked well before, I stopped for the night at Forest Hill Motel (2045).  Read until 2300 and then went to bed.  Very excited about my trip!

Plainfield, NH (USA)

During my lunch break, I decided to head over to the town of Plainfield (villages of Plainfield, East Plainfield and Meriden) because I'd seen online that they had a tradition of decorating their yards with "Pumpkin People."  I made some a stop in West Lebanon (for computer repairs) and then drove south on NH-12A.  It was rainy and miserable but I found a few of the pumpkin themed decorations that residents added to their yards.  I didn't see a lot in the village of Plainfield, although there was a clever one that paid homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  I decided to try to find some other displays to the east, so I headed back to the north.  As I was about to turn on to a side road, I got pulled over by the local police department for speeding.  I hadn't realized I was, or what the speeding limit even was - fortunately, the officer was merciful and warned me to be careful.  He then recommended some good locations for me to find more Pumpkin People.  I drove over to Meriden on Stage Road and followed the policeman's recommendations - there were so many good ones!  It was hard to find places where I could pull over for photos but I ended up with come good pictures in the end.  I checked out the village of East Plainfield too - it appeared that people decorated as far north as the Lebanon town line.  I used NH-120 to get back to my condo and resumed my telework.  It was a fun trip!

South Pomfret, VT (USA)

Got an early start this morning, excited to be in striking distance of finishing my last few AT miles in Vermont!  On the way out of town, I stopped for breakfast at McDonalds in West Lebanon (0700) and then used US-4 to get to Woodstock.  I arrived at the AT Trailhead (empty lot) on VT-12 (north of Woodstock) by 0745.  I headed west (AT SOBO) immediately The temps were in the low 60s already but it was overcast, fortunately - I was able to start with a short sleeved shirt again. The first part of this section took me across active cattle pasture (didn’t see any) before I got into the trees.  From there, it was a gradual, almost continuous, climb along a long ridge.  Leaves were falling everywhere and the white blazes were scarce - this made it hard to see where I was supposed to go.  Got turned around a few times but generally made progress as I ascended.  Through the trees, I occasionally saw buildings, which I presume were the kind of vacation homes I’ve often seen nearby - really didn’t feel very isolated until I reached the Wintturi/Winturri Shelter at mile four.  By then, my elevation was high enough that I could see the ridges to the southwest and noticed that they were covered in dark clouds.  It also got windier on that side of the ridge...  This motivated me to press onward through the toughest part of the climb: to the top of The Pinnacle.  After reaching the summit, I was pleasantly surprised at the leisurely descent on the western slope (very un-AT-like).  For the first time all season, I noticed ticks had fallen on my arm - fortunately, they hadn't bit me yet and I was able to brush them off.  About half way down, I found myself on an old track which I soon discovered was the unimproved part of Green Gate Road.  Since my turnaround point was right where that road and the AT diverged, I started thinking about how it might be easier to backtrack to the car via a different route.  A bit later, it started to rain - that made the decision easier!  Donning my poncho, I took the blue blazed trail/track to the gravel part of the road and found the parking lot I’d used a few weeks before (empty).  From there, I followed country roads all the way back to VT-12, passing pretty farms (including one founded in 1757!) and enjoying the steady downhill grade.  Through all of the walking, I didn’t see any other hikers - I only encountered three vehicles and one guard dog (he never left his porch).  I reached my car again (the AT lot was full by then) at 1145, having covered nearly 11 miles!  Even better than the great pace, though, was the fact that I’d finished every AT mile in Vermont.  Figured out I’ve hiked almost exactly 200 new miles of AT in only seven months of 2020.  Still hoping for more, of course, but I know I was very lucky that Winter held off for another Saturday...  AT Today = 5.2 miles / G.T. AT = 1726.2 miles

Sharon, VT (USA)

After my hike in the snow last weekend, I really didn’t expect that I’d get any more trail miles in the area until 2021.  However, the weather improved dramatically yesterday afternoon and temps in the mid 60s were expected today - it seemed like a good excuse to work a short Friday!  I left my house at around noon and crossed the River into Vermont (used I-89 and US-4).  By 1300, I had reached the Thundering Falls AT Trailhead (on River Road, just east of Killington).  The lot was full and more people (most from New York and New Jersey) were arriving by the minute!  I managed to get a spot on the side of the road and headed NOBO immediately - fortunately, the crowds were headed the other way (to see the Falls).  It was warm enough that I wore a short sleeved shirt - wow!  This section wasn’t very long but included a steep climb to the top of Quimby Mountain - the ascent kicked my @$$!  I think a lot of the reason for my discomfort was the lunch I ate before leaving the house.  Despite my sluggishness, I made it to the top in just over an hour.  From there, I walked along the high ridge and got great views of US-4 and a river in the valley below.  There were clouds to the south end west so I couldn’t clearly see Pico and Killington - just glimpses every now and then.  Visibility was better then I expected overall, though, because almost all the leaves had fallen off the trees.  There was a cool mountain breeze on the ridge - it felt good.  Didn’t see any animals but I encountered some people as I crossed a powerline slash.  It looked like three young guys had taken out their family’s big four wheeler and driven up on tut ridge so they could use the wireless network - they were all pounding around on the ground, looking at their phones...  I walked a short distance north and found the gravel road where I’d turned around almost two weeks ago - started my backtrack immediately.  The return was easier and I began to feel a bit better but I had to really watch my step so I didn’t slip on the steep, leaf covered trail.  Arrived at my car at 1515 and discovered that I’d walked nearly five miles (farther then expected).  Wasn’t too tired and was glad to be done with that tough hill.  Headed back towards home on US-4 (it was already getting dark) and made more hiking plans for the next day.  I’m SO close to being done with the AT in Vermont - hoping to finish this weekend!  AT Today = 2.2 miles / Grand Total AT = 1721.0 miles

Woodstock, NH (USA)

Have been wanting to climb Moosilauke since I moved to New Hampshire and, with the approaching winter weather, thought this might be a good weekend to try it.  The weather today was expected to be pretty nice (50s and sunny) so I left Hanover with faith that the 30s and foggy would improve.  Crossed the Connecticut, drove north on I-91 until Bradford (VT) and then crossed the River again at Haverhill (NH).  As I reached the top of the westernmost crest of the Whites on NH-116, I was treated to clear skies and long visibility - I thought “awesome!” and started looking forward to a great hike.  But a few minutes later I started to see what initially looked like heavy frost...  Soon, it was clear that the area had gotten some real snow during the previous 48 hours.  Wasn’t too worried (I’ve hiked the AT in snow before) until I got to the intersection of NH-112.  From there, I could see that Kinsman and Moosilauke were both topped with visible whitecaps.  This made me doubt the wisdom of a day on the AT and I almost gave up.  Since I was there, though, I explored some trailheads I’d ultimately need to use.  The road at Reel Brook (with a connector trail for Kinsman) was impassable due to the snow, so I drove to the AT Lot at Kinsman Notch (near Beaver Pond and Lost River Gorge).  It was already full - almost every car was from Massachusetts or New York...  The snowplow hadn’t actually opened all the spots so I had a choice: leave or see if Nessie’s AWD could make one.  I tried the latter and then considered my options.  Other hikers were leaving the lot (all headed south for Moosilauke) so I supposed it must be possible to climb.  But I wasn’t thrilled about an ascent of over 3000 feet in the ice - I hadn’t brought spikes or my snowshoes.  If I went the north, I knew I’d be “marooning” an AT section.  I was carrying my brand new Hike Safe Card - perhaps that’s a double edged sword (less liability vs. green light for risk)...  In the end, I decided the weather was too nice to just leave without trying something. So I left my car at 0945 (AT SOBO) with a plan to get as many miles as I could on Moosilauke.  The temps were still in the 30s so I had two layers (with a third in reserve).  The ground was frozen and water from the Beaver Brook(s) was adding more ice.  I walked about one tenth of a mile before I came to a place where the AT Guide said there should be a footbridge - but it was completely gone.  I looked for a way across and couldn’t find one - now it looked like my only choice (if I kept going) was to wade through 8-12 inches of water.  That wasn’t appealing at the beginning of my day so I decided to turn around and cross the road, trying my luck with AT NOBO.  That turned out to be a better route - from NH-112, the rocky Kinsman Ridge Trail climbed dramatically.  I took my time and used my trekking poles to ensure that I had at least three good balance points.  I reached the top of the 800 foot climb pretty easily but most of the trail was filled with melting runoff.  Every once and a while, a conifer branch above me shed all its snow - brrrrr!  On the ridge, I had to wade through deeper drifts and one really boggy area with several inches of water in places. I was feeling pretty good by the one mile mark and thought I might be able to reach the Gordon Pond Trail junction.  But then I came around a corner to find a dad and his two sons trying to decide what to do.  They told me they’d encountered an impassable area a few hundred yards to the north end had decided to go back to the road.  I continued and started looking for the spot they referenced - it was a steep cliff drop off that would have been difficult even without ice and snow.  If I hadn’t needed to do a backtrack, I believe I would have tried my luck - I was close to the Dilly Cliff Trail (never saw the trail junction but I’d read that the sign had been removed) and wanted a landmark to remember.  Ultimately, though, I really didn’t have good options.  Since I knew my descent on the backtrack would be tough anyway, I cut my losses and walked back towards the car.  It took just as much (if not more) concentration to make it safely down (I fell once).  Passed the dad and sons on the way - they were the only hikers I saw on the section.  I made it to the trailhead by about 1100 (after just over 2.5 snowy miles) but decided to look around the area near the pond and maybe find a way across the creek that had no bridge (I was unsuccessful).  About 30 minutes later, with new visitors glaring at me for my valuable parking spot, I departed for home.  I used almost the same route to reach Hanover but I stayed on the east side of the Connecticut (NH-10).  By the time I passed through the Dartmouth campus, I was seeing young people out for exercise with shorts and tee shirts - the temps in the Valley had reached the mid 50s.  Looks like it will be an interesting next few weeks - with weather seeking nice in the low elevations and snow on the AT.  Cross your fingers for me that my hiking isn’t done in 2020!  AT Today = 1.2 miles / Grand Total AT = 1718.8 miles