Rutland, VT -1688.2 miles

We got up 5:30 AM - hiked 12.4 miles into VT Rte 103 - where you can get a bus or hitch hike into Rutland, VT - 8 miles into town. It was a nice hike - I did not get lost and tried hard to keep up with Patches speed - very easy terrain. When Patches got to trail head parking - there was a man going to his car - he asked "if he was going to Rutland" and he said "No" - but he can take him there - so Patches asked "can you wait on my mother-in- law" - well how lucky can we get...He dropped us off right in front of the hostel in down town Rutland before 1 PM - how is that for good timing. The hostel is run by Twelve Tribes - a culture that also runs Back Home Again Cafe & outfitters shop all in 1 building. The young guy that showed me around and taught me the rules offered me a job in the kitchen - just so I would not have to pay to stay. Patches had paid for us to stay - we discussed it and went to the head guy and he gave our money back and sent us to the kitchen -(if they just knew) - they gave us both on of the big chopping knives - we both are still alive - we chopped all the vegetables for the soup the next day - we worked about 1 1/2 hours - then they ran of jobs for us. So, we went to resupply and then went to eat at 8 PM Monday night get together - nice food. We decided to hike over Mt Killington and come back here to the hostel.