Day 121: Zero Day in Manchester

A Day of Rest

I love our zero days. I’m sure I fall behind some of the hikers I’ve just met or passed while I’m lazing about doing nothing, but after four months of walking, I really need the regular rest. Also, catching up on laundry, writing, email, and stuff at home is not fun, but it must be done.

I’d hoped to get a new water bladder and a haircut on this zero, but only managed one of them. I stopped by “Bob’s Barber Shop” in Manchester, but a sign on the door said they only had one “stylist” working today and the waiting area was jammed. I consoled myself with a hot chai latte from Starbucks, something I’d been craving for weeks.

I guess I’ll be shaggy until Hanover. If I miss out in Hanover, I’ll either have a ponytail on Katahdin or I’ll have borrowed Gus’ shaver and given myself a buzz cut.

Roll Call

I saw PUD and Thriller in town and chatted briefly with them. I think they were heading back to the trail after resupplying at the grocery store but couldn’t quite work out how or when they got here from what they said. I should catch them on the trail in the next few days.

I saw another dozen hikers I didn’t recognize plodding along the sidewalks with big packs, trekking poles, wet clothes, muddy boots, and solemn faces. AT thru-hikers really stand out in the foofy town of Manchester. We’re not exactly the J Crew crowd.

All You Had to Do Was Ask

Because “Nate” asked, here’s the porcupine story. I’ll see if I have enough bandwidth to upload the video. If not, I’ll include some screenshots.

A Porcupine Story

A few days ago, I had my camera out, recording a long, semi-rational rant about something only obliquely trail related, the kind of thing Northstar rolls her eyes and chuckles to herself about when I play back my video notes in the evenings. Such rants rarely make the blog. But I digress.

As I recorded, a porcupine waddled out of the underbrush just ahead of me and climbed onto the two-plank walkway we were following through yet another mud bog. I zoomed in, momentarily forgetting that my hiking buddy was right on my heel.

My hiking buddy is as lonely as I am on the trail and is always looking to make new friends. So, he slipped silently around me, suddenly appearing on my iPhone’s viewscreen. He got within inches of his new friend’s tail. Yelling ensued, without any notching, I’m proud to say. What came out was a long, maximum volume, “Nooooooooooooo!”

Another Section Heading Because the Trek’s Editor Wants One

In my head, I envisioned carrying a squirming, writhing Gus the next nine miles, and then spending my entire zero day at the emergency vet, holding Gus down while they pull dozens of quills out his face. Also, that Gus would be injured. You see, it’s not all about me and my day off.

But if Gus knows anything, it’s the answer to, “Who’s a good boy?” if only because he’s asked that question a hundred times a day. And he is. As soon as I yelled, he stopped, looked at me, and reluctantly abandoned his new potential friend and returned to his heel position. I wish I were clever enough to have said to him, “He could have quilled you,” instead of “He could have killed you,” but I’m not.

Completely unfazed by all this, the porcupine waddled nonchalantly on down the trail for 30 feet before turning back into the underbrush and disappearing.

Your Turn

Feel free to lecture me about leash laws, responsible pet ownership, wilderness ethics, etc. I’m sure that this time I’ll heed your advice, unlike all the other times.

Now take a day off yourself. You deserve one.