Manchester Center, VT

Originally wrote from the Green Mountain House Hostel in Manchester, Vermont but everything mysteriously vanished so im rewriting this in Rutland, VT. 

Left Salisbury late but still managed to hike 14 miles all in one giant misty cloud. Passed through Massachusetts and had suprise trail magic right after Everett Mt. and right before the shelter. Got surprisingly cool that night and stayed so until around 10am the next day. Beautiful, but rocky 19 mile day to Mt.Wilcox where I spent the night all alone besides the mosquitoes of course. Much needed break the following day to Upper Goose Pond Cabin where only did about 16 easy miles. Arrived around 1:30 completely soaked from the hours of thunderstorms prior but was able to dry out by the indoor fireplace. Earlier that day I also had my second occurance with bear. About 200 yards after crossing one of those annoying fence-stair things I made a sharp right where a bear and 3 cubs were chilling about 10 feet from me. Almost immediately the mama bear did a bluff charge (which out of shock made me promptly fall on my butt) and the 3 cubs scurried surprisingly fast up the tree. After about 15 of just waiting, hoping it would leave I started yelling at it which worked and was able to go on my merry way assuming it was not stalking me.  Did 20 miles the next day to Dalton where were fortunate enough to have somewhere to stay. Stopped around 11 miles in to have lunch at the "Cookie Lady's" house, sadly she was not there so no cookies. Thankfully someone I was hiking with had relatives in a town near Dalton who aloud us to  stay with them for the night as well as driving us all throughout town. Very hard to leave the comfort of a real bed and start hiking in very possible rain but somehow we still managed to start back on the trail around 10:30. Only did around  16 miles the that day to Mt. Greylocke (the highest point in MA). Did not originally plan to stop here but after sitting down, asking about work for stay, and not wanting to go back in the rain, we stayed. Ended up setting up for a party for the following day as part of our work for stay and stayed in the bunkhouse. Did 20 miles the next day, 6 miles in we hitched into North Adams because of a rumour of free food. Sadly the resuraunt offering said free food was closed but we ended up eating at a nearby pizza shop for 2 hours and then eventually getting a hitch back. Crossed into Vermont, joined the Long Trail, and got to the shelter around 8:15. Hiked around 23 miles the next day to Story Spring Shelter which comprised of alot of uphill which also made thw day drag on. Got into Manchester Center around 4 after a fairly easy 21 mile day. Climbed Stratton Mountain that morning which apparently inspired Benton MacKaye to create the AT (which would not have inspired me to create a 2,200 mile long trail but it was still nice). Got a hitch in almost record time (5 minutes) to just outside town then another to the grocery store for resupply. Walked aimsily around the EMS outfitter admiring all the fancy new gear and finally, after about 45 minutes I settled on a new hat (I left my old one in Salisbury). Got picked up by Jeff from Green Mountain House and were told on arriving that without question, we needed to shower as soon as possible (which I was happy to oblige. Ended up taking my first zero in almost 450 miles the next day because of being just plain exhausted. I thought I might have Lyme Disease so I made an appointment and had blood taken, but I'm still waiting on results 8 days later. After getting back to the hostel around 4:30 I watched part of The Big Lebowski, slept until 8, ate dinner, and went back to bed.

Connecticut

Okay, well I meant to put this up a few days ago but I like sleep and doing nothing once I've stopped for the day, so it didn't happen. This is my fourth time sitting down and trying to finish this post, fourth times the charm. This post will be up to Salisbury, Connecticut even though I'm writting from about 90 miles past that.

After a long time doing nothing in Unionville we got back in NJ and went 15 more miles to the shelter. Around 2 of todays miles were entirely on boardwalks which was an intresting change. Thankfully on the boardwalk there was a trail angel that gave us water which I had just run out of. Stopped at a farmers market type place about 5 miles before the shelter where I ate a quarter of a blueberry pie and some ice cream.  Definitely not the best idea right before a 1000 ft straight up climb in 85○ but I survived. Made it officially to NY 4 miles into the next day which greeted me with many miles of slippery, sharp rocks. After a very long, rocky 10 miles we stopped again for ice cream, where I probaly had the best cookies and cream I have ever eaten. Begrudgingly, with temperatures high in the high 80s I did 12 more miles and camped at a random spot. Nice but very long and tiresome day. I passed several spots where you could supposedly see the NYC skyline... you couldn't really. Walked through Bear Mt. State Park (which is the lowest point on the AT at 124 feet) was unusually crowded for a Wednesday, disappointed that the legendary trail-side zoo was closed, but it sounded even more depressing than most zoos so I doubt I missed much. Planned a full resupply at the Appalachian Market, but it was just a gas station with a supprisingly nice restroom. Spent a fortune on only a few bars so I wouldn't starve the next day and a huge sub and iced tea for dinner. Stayed at the Graymoor Center only a mile past the market and slept under the pavilion. Bothered by mosquitos the entire night, I should have set up my tent even if it did rain most of the night. A shorter, wet 18 mile day the following day to the RPH shelter where we arrived early and ordered a few pizzas. Within the first few miles  after leaving Graymoor I guess I startled a turkey so it proceeded to chase me a few yards down the trail. Noticed many more Red Efts (or Charmanders as we like to call them) than usual on the trail, sadly they move very slowly so often get squished. An easy 26 mile day after, with very nice, cool temperatures.  Missed out on a free breakfast offered by a nearby family, which reportedly was very good. Got up early the next day and arrived in Kent, Connecticut by 12:00. After walking around the crowded town, eating lunch, and buying new shoes we finally left around 4. The selection of shoes at the Sundog shoe stores was very slim but still bought the last pair of size 13 shoes, some merrels for $80. I also bought some new superfeet insoles even though I probaly didn't necessarily need them. Hiked on 7 miles after Kent to the shelter and tented. Hiked 26 miles the following day to Salisbury, CT and stayed at Bearded Woods One of a kind Bunk and Dine. Saw a hawk only about 10  feet in front of me on my way up the first big climb of the day. Got picked up at the trailhead by Hudson from Bearded Woods at around 4. We were taken to the hostel where I took my first real shower in 8 days and washed my clothes for the first time in 12. Had a splendid, filling dinner of pot roast then watched cartoons and videos from the AT the rest of the night.