Down The Trail

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The Long Trail End-to-End Journal (Southbound)
October 7, 2007
Birch Glen Camp to Waitsfield, VT
LT Miles – 2.6
Total LT Miles – 109.8
Extra Miles – 4

I wake with a mission. Today is Sunday, and I’m going into town. I intend to get a room, shower, purchase my food resupply, and – most importantly – spend the remaining time doing nothing but eating pizza, drinking beer, and watching football.

The rain went on through the night – with a bit of thunder – leaving the morning damp and fogged in.

I think there’s supposed to be a scenic view from here… probably where you see all that gray stuff.

The fog begins to clear, with some amazing rays of light shining in on me. I do my best to capture it

I meet a number of day hikers on the final descent to the road. An older couple is interested in my hike, and they ask all sorts of questions. It’s encouraging, and I’m apt to talk, with the whole day in town ahead of me.

I step out of the woods at Appalachian Gap, and discover the cause of all the day hikers. The top of the hill and surrounding parking area serves as the finish line of an annual bicycle race up the mountain. Most folks have cleared the area, but a few stragglers are still coming in.

Some guys with motorcycles jokingly offer me a ride down the hill. I wonder if I would have taken them up on it, if they were serious. The fog continues to clear, revealing a blue sky which makes for the best day of the year for leaf-peeping in the area. It’s a perfect Sunday morning atmosphere.

Appaplachian Gap

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