Day 123, the Misty Mountains

Also known as the Green Mountains in Vermont.

And the weather was so promising. Either that or I became comfortable with the beautiful weather yesterday. Just a single, perfect day with blue skies makes you forget about all the inclement weather woes experienced just beyond that day.

The moment I hit the road, loaded down with mostly dry gear, the rain poured.

Once soaked, I stopped in a tiny general store in a tiny town. Occupying a double-wide trailer, the store offered coffee and a roof, but not much else.

I felt like I was in the book, The Hobbit.

Nobody was out, and I car passed me every ten minutes or so.

About an hour until the sun set beyond the hills in the west, I came across a small establishment at the crossroads of a small town.

Inside, I asked the locals where to setup camp. They suggested multiple places, some closer than others, but all requiring some amount of climbing on a dirt road.

Eventually, one of them said to find an old road a couple miles south. There would be an abandoned bridge at the end - a perfect camping spot.

I headed off, easily found the road, but decided the bridge was unsuitable to camp on. Slanted, rough, too visible.

Pressing on, the road deteriorated from a two paved lanes to a single track swath cut through the area. I found a clearing hanging over the waterfall below and figured that was my best shot.

The moment camp was completely setup, a couple hiked into my area. I was completely hidden by the darkness, as was my tent.

I shouted at them, I'm camping over here just to avoid surprising them later.

They left immediately - I think I scared them.

The whole night I couldn't sleep.

Joe