Rutland, VT to Dalton, MA

We've just stopped into Dalton MA for the afternoon. We've heard from just about every northbounder we've passed that we should stop in Dalton and take the opportunity to meet one of two really nice men who let hikers stay in their houses for free. We are going to be staying with Rob at "The Birdcage."

We are SO happy to be in a new state! So far the trails have been beautiful in Mass. We hiked over Greylock, MA's highest peak, yesterday. We've been hiking 19-21 mile days through southern VT and into MA and have been feeling really great. VT was special to us for two reasons besides beautiful trails: free lodging at all places and we had to hike in no rain! (we stayed at the Twelve Tribes religious community in Rutland and with a nice guy named Chris in Bennington) We had to take a quick trip into Manchester VT one day to buy a replacement filter (ours had been used for 3 years and was getting too dirty to use). We just needed to run into town and back out. We waited for a while for a hitch on the road on what was the hottest day so far. Finally a little brand new Audi picked us up. the woman was so nice to us and even gave us a $50 dollar bill to buy lunch and dinner in town! We were shocked! So we ate well in that town and bought a new filter with that money!

Since we went to Sidney for a few days off we've been hiking with a new crowd, Easy Rider, Stretch and few others. We heard that only 70 southbound hikers started this year, a record low. I think we're somewhere in the middle of that group.

It was difficult for the first few days to get back into hiking after we came back from Garrett's house. Our morale was down and we were still feeling really tired (even more so than before we had left the trail). But after a 4-mile day and an afternoon off by a gorgous stream (Big Branch River, VT) where we swam and cooked dinner on the rocks, we were ready to start really hiking again. We hope to be in NY by this time next week.

The time is about to expire on my library computer, so I'll sign off. Hope everyone is well! We love to hear from you.

Buster and Bluebird