The weather last night went from good to bad at 11:30. It started raining and it never let up until early morning. I was however dry in my tent and also bug free. There were five other hikers in the nearby shelter. I didn't know any of them. It seems as though at this point in my journey I'm running into a lot of flip-floppers, section hikers, and several people who are completing the parts of the AT that they missed in previous years and are just now attempting to complete.
Got up and packed everything early and was on the trail by 7:15. I ended up doing 13.3 miles. Came across the second ladder on the trail needed to climb down a sheer cliff. I also went up to a cabin/lookout tower where I ate lunch and took in the views. When I came out on highway VT 12, I ran into Sputnik at an eatery called On The Edge Farm. I saw him last about two weeks ago. I bought some sandwich items, ate and had a pint of ice cream afterwards. Then we both hitched a ride into nearby Woodstock, VT where we parted ways.
In Woodstock good fortune was upon me. I was at a grocery store when this elderly lady, 70ish, approached me and asked if I was hiking the AT. We had this ten minute conversation and she asks me if I had a place to stay. I said no not yet. Well she says how would you like to stay at my house on the farm I have just outside of town. I of course said yes and away we went in her Lexus to this beautiful, huge, old house situated on a hill with a fabulous view in the Vermont countryside. Her daughter was there as well visiting from Philadelphia. Apparently she does this ever so often when she chances upon a thru hiker. She's a widow with this huge house and enjoys the company and conversation with the various thru hikers she invites over. I have my own room, and took a nice hot shower. They fed me lobster with a local beer for dinner, and did my laundry for me. What fabulous luck from the good people of Vermont! This is the second time a total stranger has offered me to stay at their place.
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