(Daily Mi: 16.2) Walked the perimeters of a lot of cow pastures today. Figured Brother must be well ahead of me. Hot and humid. Not much water I care to drink. Grateful to find a cooler with still semi-cold sodas left by a former thru hiker who lives locally.

Hit the roadhead to the Four Pines Hostel at around 3 pm and decide to take a short road walk (about 1/4 mile) to check it out. About halfway there, the owner Joe Mitchell passed in his company pickup. He apologized that couldn't give me a ride in the company truck, but assured me I was almost there.

Laughed to find Brother parked on a lawn chair outside the 'bunkhouse' -- actually a huge four car garage/workshop Joe built and then on a whim dedicated to hiker use. Had apparently parked himself there for a full day now.

The two other SoBos (Flutterby and Brown Trout) I saw at the Daleville trailhead were also in. After a brief chat it occurs to me that I met them just south of Glencliff, NH as I was entering the White Mountains and they were emerging (about three days before I first met Brother).

Joe is taking off for the early evening, but generously hands me the keys to his Bronco to shuttle myself into town for an all-I-can-eat, country dinner at the Homeplace restaurant. (what I can eat turns out to include two fried chicken dinners, a roast beef dinner, green beens, fries, mashed potatos, biscuits and gravy and a pieces of apple pie.)

Later after I get back, Joe breaks out a jar of brandy distilled by a friend and we pass it around telling tales until well past 11 pm.