Aug 6-9

We have slowed down dramatically,  not for any serious reasons, but to give enough time for my winter gear to get to the post office. The last couple days have been very relaxing, with great weather in the day and a bit chilly at night. Our mileage averaged about 8 mpd (miles per day) (did I just make that up?) Vermont trail just keeps getting better, I love the views.  At some of the Vistas we have been able to see ski slopes covering the mountain sides for miles. Yesterday Aug 8 we climbed mount Killington, it was a 2000ft climb with the summit being at about 4000ft making it the second highest peak in VT. Towards the top of Killington the clouds encased the mountain, the air was very moist which made stopping rather cold. We stopped at the Cooper lodge shelter near the summit, and ate the last bit of food we had. Also at the summit was a south bounder from Chattanooga,  his trail name eludes me, we talked a bit made a few southern jokes and moved on.

Once in town, a friendly day hiker and his dog stopped to talk to me. He asked me the normal questions and I gave him the normal answers, but just before he walked away he handed me 7$ and told me to go in the Irish pub and have a beer on him, obeying his wish, that's exactly what I did. Finishing my beer I paid the unfriendly bar tender and left, outside and across the street I spotted Ms. Janet's van. Perfect timing, sunshine and I needed a ride to the post office and the outfitter. Ms. Janet is a trail Angel who dedicates most her time to just helping hikers. She is great.

Sunshine and I picked up our packages and hung out at the outfitters with toast and rusty, while charging phones and sorting gear. Although my winter gear had not yet arrived it was ok. Sunshine had arranged for us to be picked up today (friday) to stay at a friend of hers house.
The four of us went back to the trail to find a camp just outside of town. After walking about .5 miles we spotted at little spot on a pine covered hill which we decided would do. Sunshine, rusty, toast and I all squeezed our tents/hammocks into the tiny clearing and sat back to relax and have intensely serious conversation about cartoons and going back to society.

During the night the rain came down hard, and had no intention on stopping.  For sunshine and I it was no big deal, we would be getting off trail in the morning,  but for our comrades it was a wet morning.  We said bye to rusty and toast and headed back to the outfitter. The rain continued most of the day at a steady down pour. My winter gear arrived about 1pm then sunshine and I walked in the rain to the post office to send our summer gear home. 6pm. Jeff arrived to pick us up, oh what a wonderful day. Jeff offered us the pull out couch inside but we politely declined to sleep outside,  we really are going crazy. Tomorrow we will go to a party with food, tons of it I hope, stay the night again then head north, towards New Hampshire the 13th state and home of the White Mountains.