8/1/03 We hiked to the parking lot on VT 103 and were just considering our options when a smiling, animated elderly gentleman approached us. Ernie offered to drive us to the country store down the road and to the Whistle Stop restaurant and back to the parking lot. Our original plan was to meet Marty and BJ here and eat breakfast at the Whistle Stop before hiking together over Killington. A little trail magic from Ernie took our minds off missing them and we rode to the store with Ernie. He waited out front while we grabbed snacks: a bag of Fritos, a Mounds bar, a mini-pack of Oreos, a package of Reese's Peanut Butter cups, and a Hershey's Special Dark bar. You'd think we hadn't seen food in years!