Bennington to Manchester, VT

5.10. I got up early and walked to the grocery store to stock up. Tom Bluto drove me back to the A.T. and I hit the trail at 10:00 AM. It was a warm day and I stopped at the first shelter to change into shorts. Two young guys were settled in there and told me they were on the 5th day of a 25-day fast. Right. I chatted with them and they seemed OK, but my antenna was raised, and I quickly changed and got back on the trail.

Hiked 10 miles to the Goddard Shelter and stopped for the night. Goddard is the nicest shelter I've seen with a real porch and a covered roof. Also a view to die for.

5.11. It rained last night harder than anything I have experienced--maybe ever. It was like the clouds turned updside down and dumped the water all at once.

It's noon and I'm at the Kid Gore Shelter for lunch and to change into shorts; getting warm again.

4:30 PM. I stopped at the Story Spring Shelter for the night. The famous black flies greeted me here. Didn't see another hiker all day.

5.12. Last night was the first night that I slept without long pants, long sleeve top, socks, and hat. Starting today in shorts and tee-shirt, another first.

Officer Taco walked into the shelter as I was packing. He is the #2 dog, about 100 miles behind Magic. Officer Taco is a nice young guy from Holland, Michigan and studying to be a police officer. He cooked tacos on the trail one night for some other hikers and they anointed him with his trail name on the spot.

I checked my map before heading out and I noticed that the Stratton Pond Trail led straight to the next shelter, as compared to the A.T. which zigged and zagged all over the map. I estimated I could cut the mileage by 30-40% and I blue-blazed it to the Stratton Pond Shelter. I ate lunch there and continued on to the William Douglas Shelter and stopped for a break. Officer Taco, who took the long route, sauntered in a few minutes later and I could tell he was shocked to see me there; I fessed up and told him how I got ahead. We were both headed for Manchester Center to pick-up mail and he said he was going on the next shelter and spend the night, then walk in to Manchester the next morning. Sounded good, and I told him I would see him there later.

The A.T. soon joined a gravel road, and I looked at the map to see where it went. The road ran off my map, but I could see that it was headed Northwest toward Manchester. It was mid-afternoon and I gambled that the road led to Manchester or intersected with another road that did and I kept walking. About an hour later, I came out on a highway leading to Manchester, hitched a ride, and got to the Post Office at 4:50 PM, with ten minutes to spare.

Then I walked into town, replenished my groceries, got my coffee fix, my Ben & Jerry's fix, stopped at REI to buy a part for my backpack, and headed back to the trail. It is 5.5 miles to the trailhead and I walked 4 miles before I got a ride. It was almost dark by then, but I thought I could get to the next shelter before I lost all daylight. Not to be. I was still walking at 10 P.M. when I lost the trail. I ventured left, then right, but I couldn't find the trail under my feet nor could I see the next blaze. I pulled out my tarp and slept on the trail. When I woke up the next morning the first thing I saw was the Privy roof; I was only 50 yards from the shelter. Go figure.

5.13. Hiked from my "trail-bed" to the Peru Peak Shelter and stopped for the night. Officer Taco breezed in later, and was again surprised to see me ahead of him. I told him about my "country road to Manchester" detour. He went on to the next shelter.