2019 venture vermont: Pack a picnic for someone else to enjoy

this summer a group of girl scouts was hiking a portion of the long trail near my house.

now, in 1976 i was a girl scout on a hike on that same terrain and i remember what it was like to encounter trail magic.

but because the trip leader is a friend of mine, i was able to find out what things the girls would especially enjoy to find in a magic box, and they wanted chocolate milk and a baguette.

ok, that's weird, but ok.

so i got them good chocolate milk from a reputable local dairy and a good baguette from a fine local bakery and while i was at it i got them a wedge of brie and some tomatoes and some milky ways.

and because it's bad manners and probably bad luck to leave out special things for only your hikers but not share, i bought some sodas and some water and i wrapped up the things for the girl scouts and left a note encouraging all passing hikers to help themselves to the drinks and the rest of the candy  and all morning our girls were hearing southbound hikers telling them their box was at the trailhead which was a total surprise to them and the trip leader tells me they
practically ran down the mountain to get it.

it turned out that two of the girls were french, so a good baguette and a wedge of french cheese was very welcome.

but while that PROBABLY qualifies as making a picnic lunch for someone else to enjoy, on my adventure day with my friend barb i went to the grocery store and picked up some sandwiches and such and packed here a surprise lunch that we ate in a clearing in the green mountain national forest.