My boots have separated the sole from the top, so Karen drives us to a large outfitter to buy new boots. On the way we cross back on the bridge to Norwich and see Stucco and Scatters and Boss arriving on the bridge to enter New Hampshire.
Karen then drops us back in Hanover and we have lunch, do our food shopping and then walk the 5 miles back to Etna which is a very tiny village close to Tiggers Treehouse. We had spoken on the phone to Tater Chip, whom we had not seen since Virginia. He decided to 'flip flop' - after reaching Harpers Ferry, the half way mark he then headed to Maine to the end point of the trail to start walking back south to Harpers Ferry. He was worried that he would not complete the trail before the cold set in if he kept heading north. So Tater is heading south to Hanover and the plan is that we will cross paths with him on the trail today as we head north from Hanover. And can you believe it - we actually do meet up. He is as hail and heary as ever - keen, talking at a hundred miles an hour, with a strong southern Alabama accent. We sit and chat for half an hour and share recommendations. He has been sick and had to take a week off the trail to recover. He is walking with two young guys, who seem to fit in with quite well.
We turn off the trail to the general store at Etna and drink Mountain Dew and eat blueberry cake and potato chips and wait for Karen to pick us up. Another hiker arrives, who we meet for the first time - On the Loose - and we walk with On the Loose for the next 5 weeks and share the summit with her on our final day.
Back at Tiggers Treehouse we cook bacon and eggs for dinner in the microwave. It is very cramped and Digby and I restrain from killing each other.
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