sweetwilder

Long Trail – Day 4

June 17, 2016

Stratton Pond Shelter to Manchester Center

The sun comes up in Vermont at 4:45 am. Not just a gentle sunrise, but full on shining. It’s taken some getting used to, especially when you’re sleeping outside. I got another relatively early start and left the shelter after breakfast.

The first few miles through Lye Brook Wilderness I hiked with Quasar. She’s a biology teacher in Vermont. It was neat to see her perspective on thru-hiking the LT and we talked at length at how much we miss our spouses. I got to tell her all about my family and my life as well.

The trail was relatively easy today and I got a lot of time alone hiking. At one point on a minor dirt road walk I looked up and saw the brightest blue sky I’ve ever seen.
My original plan was to push on to Bromley Shelter, but I needed to refresh my snacks and really wanted some food. After 10 miles the trail intersects Hwy. 11. I had been told that I wouldn’t have a problem finding a hitch into town, and as luck would have it, I got picked up as soon as I stood on the side of the road.

Manchester Center is a very posh town, before checking into the hotel, I walked around: fancy stores and fancy restaurants. I went into Northshire Bookstore and found a copy of The Sound And The Fury. The seller thanked me for reading on the Trail.

Dinner was a scrumptious fish and chips at Bob’s Diner, satisfying a two day craving.
It’s weird being in town, I really wish I was in the woods.

Total mileage is 10.6 miles.