News from Massachusetts/Vermont

This is Karla relaying some of Luke and Caleb’s news from the Massachusetts/Vermont chapter of their journey. Carl and I did get to travel up and see the guys in person. Our initial impression (besides thinking Luke looked like an authentic Amish farmer with his reddish-colored bushy beard) was that the guys were in need of some good rest, some therapeutic treatment for their feet, dry weather, and renewed enthusiasm for their adventure. We were supposed to meet them in Bennington, VT but Luke called from North Adams, MA (about 20 hiking miles from Bennington) about an hour into our road trip saying their feet could go no further and could we meet them in North Adams instead. They were just going to stop and camp out behind a store and wait for us until we arrived the next day. Luke sounded pathetic on the phone and we knew they were in rough shape because it was still almost 24 hours until time to meet them, and normally, 20 more miles in a full day would not be a problem for them.

Their main problem was rain and wet feet. They had been in rain so many days in a row that their feet had been in a state of continuous wet. Continuous wet feet produce bad results for thru-hikers who rely on their feet more than any other piece of equipment. After hearing how forlorn and tired they sounded, we told them to get a motel room, take showers, get their feet dry, and wait for us; we would drive all the way to them instead of stopping over in PA as we had originally planned. So . . . Carl and I drove and drove and drove and drove some more until midnight when we got to Williamstown, MA and The Maple Terrace Inn located in the remote, ritzy Berkshire resort area. (The reason they chose this inn was because it was the only place that had internet access, but it turned out the internet was down the entire time they were there.) Luke said the innkeeper was not particularly hiker-friendly and wanted to hose them off before they entered, but he did rent them a room and gave them shelter which was what the boys needed. (The innkeeper just hosed their boots off and kept them outside by his storage shed.) It was great to see the guys when we arrived. Carl and I were exhausted from the drive but not nearly as exhausted as our boys who had walked even further than we had driven! We felt like wimps for complaining, but it's a long way up there!

After a good night’s sleep, the next morning we checked out of our inn and drove the short distance (15 minutes) to Bennington, VT . . . our original destination and began a delightful 2-day visit. First we found the famous Blue Benn Diner and ate an amazing breakfast. Then we did laundry, then purchased Epsom salts, foot care products, and dishpans so that we could begin nursing the boys’ feet, and then checked into our charming 2-bedroom apartment at a small motel in Bennington. It was just what we all needed. The guys’ spirits were getting much better. In fact, the boys laughed almost constantly about everything. They were giddy with happiness and helped Carl and me enjoy every moment. The boys can eat and then eat again, and even when we bought a dozen doughnuts “to go” from the Blue Benn Diner after we had stuffed ourselves and not realizing that each doughnut was almost a pound , by the next day, all the doughnuts were gone. (They were amazing doughnuts!) So after a couple of days in Bennington, some great meals at wonderful eating establishments (primarily, the Brewery), the boys bellies were getting full, their feet actually began looking like feet again, and they enjoyed watching the US soccer team and golf on the motel’s TV while it poured rain outside.

So after two days off the trail, the rains cleared and it was time to drop the boys off at the trail. This was last Tuesday morning. We returned to NC (stayed overnight in VA on our way back) and we were so happy that we shared a couple of days with two of the best people we know. We wish we could convey how much everyone's support means to them. Thanks for following the blog. If you haven't already, I hope you will watch the video they posted titled The Ice Cream Feast.

Before I close, let me tell you we got a call from Luke this evening, eight days after we last saw him. Today, they crossed into New Hampshire. They only have two states left! They are staying in a motel tonight and are taking tomorrow off to do laundry and rest. They’ll be back on the trail on Friday. Their spirits are good, even though they were experiencing even more rain. But Maine is in sight, and no doubt, these boys are going to make it. Let’s all celebrate when they get back to NC! We can have a Followers’ Party. I can promise you the guys will not run out of great stories to tell! Until they update again . . .

–Karla (Mom) for Nosehose and Hillraiser

(After hearing them talk and tell stories for two days, Carl and I suggested they should have the trail names of “What If” and “On Board” or “All In" . . . which by the way is the new question I am posting for the blog. Scroll down to vote for who you think is “What If” and who is “On Board” or “All In”