Sunday 12th August

I woke several times in the night due to the rain and was dozing until 5am . as I was wide awake I switched my alarm off but on my head torch and stumbled to the privy.

On the way back i retrieved my food bag and juke boxes as she had hung hers with mine
I rolled her food bag under her tent then went back to my tent and began to pack up. It was just dusk when I was done. I put on my stove for tea and breakfast. when both were done I went and sat by the shelter. the 3 lady occupants  were just getting up .We chatted a while then I stowed my cup and spoon

.said good by and happy trails to jukebox who was just stirring and walked out of camp and back to the trail.
As I headed down the trail it seemed to be getting darker not lighter and there was a sea mist in the air. well it looked like that. But it was very very warm , how weird.

I marched on as it was about 5 miles to the bridge and the border… New Hampshire whoop . First chore was my first climb , but it wasn’t too steep. after that it was a fairly nice trail. For some reason I expected to see some moose but as I hadn’t seen a deer in weeks that was probably not going to happen after several hours i emerged onto a road. it took me a few minutes to see the blazes, as they headed down hill. as I began to walk along the road the first house that I came too had a large cool box full of coke and a box filled with sweets
I signed the book, sat on the bench that was left there and drained a coke grabbed a few sweets and continued on my way. the next house had a similar set up and the next and the next house. somewhat a welcome. one of the houses had a sign saying hikers are welcome to use their pool.

That would of been nice but now it was raining and raining fairly hard. I kept walking in the rain . it was about a 3 mile road walk to Hanover. .So it was going to be a wet welcome. I crossed over the road and followed the road under several bridges . I could see road signs pointing to Hanover so began to get a little excited. In the distance I cod see the greyish waters of the Connecticut river, I must be close, and then there it was .

I loved the bridge with its huge concrete globes and in the middle was the border line.
hurrah and whoop whoop I’m in New Hampshire,  a wet New Hampshire but I’m here only 1 more state to go But I have to cross the whites.
I took a dozen or so photos then carried on in to town the water streaming off of me. Once I was here I looked around a coffee would be nice ,well anything hot would be nice. Starbucks that will do
I walked in and dropped my pack god it was freezing inside so rummaged in my pack for something warmer to put on. It was filled with mainly college girls wearing less than me and obviously not feeling the cold. weird. I ordered a large white coffee and a breakfast muffin . Signed into Wi-Fi and uploaded all the outstanding stuff from my phone.
I stayed until 11.30 then it was lunch time and wanted curry or st least something different. I walked along the road until I saw it. I crossed over and laughed to myself as I saw all the packs lined up outside. I slotted mine in between them and walked in. The place was heaving with hikers and students. I grabbed a plate from a table and got In The queue. there were bowls of different foods, salads , nan,  and sauces. I loaded my plate and sat down and then ordered a beer. the food was really good. so I went back for seconds and may be a third time. Drank a second beer then I was done. I left full and fat and very pleased. I put on my pack and was just about to walk when I got chatting to a large group of SOBOS.
We stood chatting for ten minutes, they invited me to join them for more beer. an option I would normally have jumped at but I was full. I also wanted more miles as I had spent the morning in Starbucks and a long lunch in the Indian. So  reluctantly said good bye and good luck to them and continued down the road.  As i crossed over a busy intersection, Sat outside a large shop was the commander and his posse. I went and said hi, as I was chatting Bleep and Sir-Dancealot came out of the shop.
So I decided to have a quick wander. I emerged with 1more meal, 2 oranges, 2 Apples, a bag of cherries and a pint of wine . I quickly shoved them all into my pack . said my goodbyes again and headed on down the road.
It was 5 minutes of road walking before the trail headed back into the woods and UP!.
I pushed on after about an hour I came to a sign pointing to Velvet Rocks shelter. but it was off trail so I pushed on until I came to another sign pointing to water it was .2 off trail but i wanted it.
I quickly found it and filled up then retraced my steps back to the trail. okay I will walk to 5 pm so that should give me approximately 5 more miles.
I plugged into my headphones and pushed on, I crossed several roads. at the last one i crossed  there was a water cached, so I swapped my water for fresh.
Now I can stop anywhere, i was feeling rather pleaded so nature intervened  and it began to drizzle. Bottoms I said to myself,  it was 5pm but as i was feeling good I was going to push on but i didn’t want to put my tent up in the rain so began to look for a spot.
There that will do me nicely.
I soon had my tent up and my line hung and as a treat I had  wine with my dinner .
whoop another state down !!

Start. 1743
Finish. 1756
Miles. 13
Miles to go 434