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Friday–October 15, 2021
Trail Day–238
Trail Mile–8.4/2382.3
Remaining Miles–235.5
Location–VT-140 (513.0) to USFS-10 (521.4), then to Yellow Deli Hostel, Rutland
We’re enjoying our stay at the Yellow Deli Hostel. They’ve spacious bunk rooms (sheets, pillow cases, and blankets on comfortable mattresses), shove-you-back hot water showers (w/soap, shampoo, conditioner). Multiple toilets. Spacious living room, plus kitchen.
Last evening we dine at Little Harry’s, a block over. At the table were Barry, Slim Jim, Kitchen Sink, Professor, and me. A fun (photo op) time.
This morning, we take advantage of another fine benefit offered here at the hostel–deep discount on breakfast at the Yellow Deli, seven-thirty, right downstairs, prepared by Aysh. In that photo: Barry, Kitchen Sink, Space Blanket, Slim Jim, me (and cook) Aysh.
A long shuttle back to the trailhead by Barry, and Kitchen Sink and me, we’re on trail at nine-thirty. Ascent and descent today, 1,750 feet up, 1,500 down. We’re into the climb right away. More rocks and roots, reminiscent of the cobbed-up trail dealt me in Maine and New Hampshire. This gets me grumbling right off the bat. Bad attitude. Shadows me the entire day. Three bite-the-dirt stumble-falls doesn’t help my disposition. More knee and elbow skid marks.
Into the climb, the trail passes a fascinating (manmade?) feature known as the Rock Garden. Local lore has it as being created by woodland gnomes. I join in and play “woodland gnome” as I pass.
More up and down past White Rocks to Little Rock Pond. Kitchen Sink and I stop at Little Rock Pond Shelter for lunch, great PBJs prepared by Barry.
Then comes the the bailoff to USFS-10, our destination for today…
It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer;
it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.
(Pema Chodron)
