I had a great time at the 2003 ALDHA Gathering at Dartmouth College. A nice drive up Friday morning to Storrs Pond, setting up camp and seeing my Canadian pals Sumac and Undetermined. Being impressed at the number of Life Members, PCTers, CDTers, LTers, and ECTers checking in as I helped out (a very little bit) at the registration desks. Marveling at Raven's pie sized apples, and puzzling over us both being able to recite the same 18th century verse. Giving Magaroni back the journal pages he mailed me during his PCT hike. Getting two wicked cool new ALDHA tee shirts. Giving a lift to two strangers who turned out not to be - they were Deb W and Hikerhead. Seeing Jojo, John O, and Stitches once again. Introducing one of Sloetoe's ten year olds (can't tell 'em apart) to the grown-ups as a Long Trail thruhiker, getting sore hands applauding as each year's hiking class was called out and being very impressed with the 03er numbers. Meeting Pilot and her boy-toy Felix during Simp & Griz's wedding. Getting chop sticks lessons while eating takeout Chinese under the stars, being adorned with a welcoming red duct tape blaze, doing two-degrees of separation at the main campfire and finding out we all 'knew' each other. Making new friends in the parking lot late at night. Waking up to someone calling out 'hot water! who wants coffee? who needs hot water?' and ending up sharing out all of my hot chocolate mix. Giving Grandma Gatewood's daughter a Sports Illustrated from the 50s that had a story about her hike, one she had never seen. Meeting the ATC's good will ambassador Laurie Potteiger, and spending too much at the hiker fair. Fondling all kinds nifty gear and having POG invite me to climb into a hammock. Seeing too many I-gotta-go-there slide shows like Mrs Gorp's and Skeeter's. Going to the 2003 hiker's talk in an over-flowing class room, being amazed at Bumpkin's Bull Moose photos from Baxter, seeing again folks I met on the trail like Trace, 1/3, Jack, Model-T, Wolverine, Old, MuddButt, Birdman, Loser and sweet singin' T-Bird - and folks I missed by inches like A-Train, Hotdog, Skeemer, and Liteshoe. Girl watching with a girl friend. Passing around the 2002 Katahdin register the Ranger gave me after it was full. Meeting angels like Suz from NH and Mary from down south. Saying the "f" word at dinner in front of (oh boy) a Minister. Hearing a youngster say "Man, it's a long trail but it's a small world," like she'd just figured it out. Talking about the olden days with Sloetoe long after lights out. Meeting in half an hour dozens of people like Papa Bear, the just-engaged MonadnockDee, D-Train the Queen of Tent Erection, and AT Troll - too many quick handshakes, hellos, and hugs - and wishing I could slow down time. Trying to help Noel changing the paper towels at the campground bathroom. Going to an AT museum meeting and almost nodding off, going to the business meeting way wide awake after two cups of Dirt Cowboy coffee. Laughing too hard at the Gathering Group photo, and saying goodbye way too many times. I just emptied the camera bag and found four rolls of film - I wonder what other memories are on them?