AT 125 - 31st July [Zero day]

 

Marriott Hanover NH

Woke late and had a late breakfast. Planed first week in NH. Higher mountains!!! Asked someone in hotel carpark for a lift into Hanover. Spent the day walking around Dartmouth college and got beard trimmed. Had a large lunch and took free bus back to hotel. Resupplied at local shop and relaxed. Went for dinner at local diner. Great zero day. Trying to head out early tomorrow, miles to do!  

Just completed 5 million steps and 64,394 Floors. 

Is that St.James (shell)

No quite the book of Kells. 

AT 124 - 30th July [442.7]

 

Marriott Hanover NH (don’t judge me!!!)

Dry night so left early and headed to Hanover. Easiest day for a while. After decent there was trail magic, coffee and hard boiled eggs. Then the last up and over to town. The mosquitoes are out on force!!! The last bit was on road and sun was very hot. Over the bridge into New Hampshire!!! Another state complete. Got a burger in town and headed to hotel. Washed clothes and charged everything and relaxed. Taking a zero tomorrow to plan NH. 

PS. Just finished my second loo roll. 

AT 123 - 29th July [457]

Thunder heading our way. 

Whistle Hill Shelter. 

17 miles to cover today with lots of little hard ups and downs. Stoped at farm shop for lunch, rhubarb and something crumble was amazing. Thunderstorm for the last 4 miles was fun. Right overhead and heavy rain, soaked to the skin. I had my first fall because the path was so slippery. Only ego hurt!!! Stripped off to nickers and washed under the roof runoff to get mud off. Then dried and clean cloths to get warm again. It stoped raining long enough to put up tent and went to bed early. 

Platform on top of shelter. 

AT 122 - 28th July [474.6]

Chateauguay Road near stream. 

Had breakfast at Inn and tried Uber and taxi but no good. Had to walk to bus station and got free bus back to AT. Three climbs today but non too steep. Lovely trail magic of burger and drinks and also darn tough socks!!! The sock people were out giving free socks and caps. I already had 4 pairs so I took a cap. Stoped on gravel road and found tent spots. Had swim/wash #29 in stream near road. 

Sad news. 

As we were at trail magic the police search  team arrived. The body of the missing hiker was found 2 miles down stream. There was a bridge over the main river but the next tributary would also have been very angry on the 7th July with the large rainfall. He must have tried to cross and got swept away.  My prayers are for the family. 

Thought for the day

I’ve been sad thinking of all that hikers expectations of finishing the AT dashed and worst a life lost. 

One decision can change everything. 

One orange light rushed through. 

One too many drinks and bad choice crossing road. 

One miss step on stairs. 

One miscalculation and your life is changed for ever or even worst. 

One decision you can’t put off is your eternal life question. Life is a very fine thread that is easily broken and then it’s too late. The question is, what do you say about Jesus? Is he a good person and we need to try to be more like him ? Is Jesus irrelevant ? Or is Jesus the saviour you need ? Make up your mind today because tomorrow might be too late. 

Helicopter tree. 

AT 121 - 27th July [489.2]

 

The leash. 

Comfort Inn - Rutland

Tough day. 4500 up was hard but the 4500 down was just as hard. 2nd highest mountain in VT. Low cloud took all the views away. Got to road and tried to  thumb a lift into town. Then the Sheriff turned up and pulled up beside me, oh no. He asked my name and trail name , he was looking for a missing hiker. I thought he was going to ticket me for hitchhiking, it’s illegal in NY  and wasn’t sure about VT. Free bus came and I got into town. Resupply in Walmart and then washing in Comfort inn. Steakhouse right beside us so we walked over. They had a buffet on Thursday and we hit the jackpot, we kept going back. Tummy a bit sore all night from overeating!!!!

There’s a 4?? to go. 

500 to go marker!!!

Flood damage

Bank washed away

AT 120- 26th July [505.9]

 

Clarendon Shelter

Wonderful day. Lots of climb but most easy enough. We got to road leading to deli and Sarah pulled in and offered us trail magic sofa but I asked if she could drop us to deli (1 mile down road) she did and we had real food, chicken salad sub, beer and two pastries for desert. Just as we were thinking of hitching back Sarah pulled in and drove us back to the AT. What a girl!!! She also advised us on the best place to stay in Rutland, where we will be tomorrow. The last climb after deli was straight up but the full belly helped. Had Swim #28 in the river beside shelter. Setup tent and early to bed because tomorrow we have a 4500 feet climb. 

AT 119 - 25th July [524.5]

Lost Pond Shelter

Had a great breakfast at 8:30 and then Sean dropped us to the AT. Late start but with a great sleep and a belly full of real food the day went really well. Two big climbs which seemed easier than normal. Was hoping to go to tenting spot at river 1.5 miles further but some sobo’s told us that all the spaces were gone so we stop and tented at shelter. We’re meeting a lot of sobo’s who had a really hard time in Maine with 27 out of 30 days of June  raining which also caused the rivers to be uncrossable!!! Very dangerous conditions. Some people’s packs were swept away and some crossings were out of this world scary!!! The rivers should be back to normal for us nobo’s. 

Thought for the day

Hebrews 3:12-14

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. [14] For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

I think it interesting that we should exhort each other DAILY to keep the faith and to stand firm.

Sin is truly deceitful and if unchecked can draw us away from Christ. 

As I’ve said before, it’s great that we can return to Jesus with a repentant heart and He is faithful to forgive us because of His finished work at Calvary. 

Swim #27

AT 118 - 24th July [539.3]

 

Manchester - The Olympia Lodge

Easy 10 miles to carpark. Thumbed a lift into town. Was looking forward to a big fat greasy burger but the nearest was closed. Noticed a Cafe over the road and went over thinking they’ll have a burger. It was a Turkish cafe (restaurant) and had amazing food but expensive. We met the carpet store owner (Sean) and he offered us a lift to motel. Who cares when you come out of the woods. Headed to Laundry-mat to do clothes. Then resupply. It started to rain and Sean collected us and delivered us to lovely motel.