8/26/03 We were up and doing last minute packing when Papa Bower called up the stairs that breakfast was ready. The dining room was bright and cheery and the smells coming from the kitchen delicious. There were fresh cut flowers in the vase and we had a full view out the picture window of their lovely flower garden with hummingbirds flitting about and an acrobatic squirrel robbing a birdfeeder. Mama Bower served French toast with sliced cinnamon apple topping, maple syrup, orange juice we thought was fresh squeezed, and decaf coffee. They had a nice anniversary celebration dinner in Burlington the night before with family and friends. They told us the story of their B&B. After their children left home they wanted to keep the house and stay busy, but another B&B opened in town first. They hesitated to open theirs until the other owners told them they were turning away business and encouraged them to proceed with their dreams. We are surely glad they did. They told us they heard from another hiking guest that more people quit the trail this year or were injured than ever before. The hiker who told them had to get off because of a broken leg and knew of a female hiker with a broken arm who was going to try to continue. The rain contributed to the injuries.

After breakfast and some last minute packing up Papa Bower drove us to the PO and wished us luck. We posted our box and then got back on the road at 9:45am for the rest of the dreaded hike on the road until the trail turns into the woods. This is where the trail passes under Interstate 89. We stopped to take pictures of the white blazes on the overpass pillars.