Nimblewill Nomad
Long Distance Hiker/Author
Journal 228-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!
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Tuesday–October 5, 2021
Trail Day–228
Trail Mile–-7.6/2296.9
Remaining Miles—320.5
Location–Elm Street trailhead, Norwich, Vermont (444.7), south to Quechee Road (452.3), then back to Hanover Adventure Tours Hostel, Norwich, Vermont, Kimberly Chambers, Proprietor, MaKensi Kastl, Hostel Mgr.
We’d like to get on trail and keep moving on south today, but I’ve got to wait until 8:30 this morning. That’s when Dr. Gregory’s office takes first calls for the day. Finally, I’ve found a foot surgeon who’s willing to see me, and I’ve got to work out preliminary details with his nurse. All is soon completed successfully and I’ve been set up to see Dr. Gregory tomorrow morning at eleven-thirty. This is a wonderful blessing! I’ve been suffering with intractable pain in my left foot since the first full week in March, well over six months ago. Obviously I can live with the chronic pain, but the joy in this hike is definitely being shadow by it.
Late morning now, eleven o’clock, Barry has Kitchen Sink and me back to Elm Street trailhead. Although late morning, we’re hiking into yet a dark morning, though there’s hope for other than a rainy day.
We’ve the anticipated climb right off the bat, but it’s comparatively gentle, up and around Gregg Mountain. We’re now in the Green Mountain National Forest of Vermont.
Barry has driven around, then hikes in to meet us. Off the mountain, we stop for a snack break at Tiger Town Road. Here I meet Hiker Greg. He’s trekking northbound (In his 2015 high-top Oboz shoes with over 2,000 miles on them!), and will complete his 2021 AT thru-hike in Hanover. Congratulations, Hiker Greg!
We’ve a roadwalk under I-89, which continues on through West Hartford. Our day ends where the roadwalk ends at Quechee Road.
Late afternoon, Barry has us back for another night of bunkhouse comfort at Hanover Adventure Tours Hostel. Got to get cleaned up and do laundry. Don’t want to smell up the doctor’s office tomorrow…
Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,
but for the heart to conquer it.
(Rabindranath Tagore)
Nimblewill Nomad 