Date: 2006-08-09
From: Oleson's Brook, NH

To: Glencliff, NH
Miles today: 15.9

I woke up at 5:15am and had my coffee and an apple pie that Mrs Gorp bought me.I was packed up and walking at 6:15.Mrs Gorp had packed up and walked out of camp about 10 minutes before me....again. :-)))It's 55 degrees out, cool, but it's damp in this boggy area.I caught up to Mrs Gorp an hour later when I came around a corner in the trail and she was sitting down eating breakfast.I ate a snack and got water from a small stream and mixed up some Gatorade before we walked on.I ran into a section hiker by the name of Desert First just before I summited the South Peak of Kinsman.She said she took that name because she's doing the sections she wants to first....she climbed Katahdin two days ago.Wild Bill and Mountain Jam were on the summit of South Kinsman when we got up there.I had run into Wild Bill earlier this year and I ran into Mountain Jam two years ago in this area.We talked a while, then the four of us walked on together and summited the East Peak of Kinsman together.Mrs Gorp and I went out to the overlook and ate lunch while the other two hiked on.It was a beautiful day and I could clearly see the Franconia Range across the way.We sat there and enjoyed the day and the views for about half an hour before we walked on.Another nobo by the name of Coach K came out and joined us just before we left.He's been with the Duke atheletic department for over 20 years.We kept walking until we got to Lonesome Lake Hut....a long descent off Kinsman.When I walked in the hut, I saw some thru hikers.One recognized me....he was Sidewinder and has been walking with his Dad and two dogs on the trail.I hadn't seen him since back at Gooch Gap in Georgia.He said Sourdough (his Dad) was up ahead on the trail.Little Engine, Gotta Go and Rad McBad Butt was also there.I drank plenty of water, then about 20 minutes after we left, we ran into Grit, Don, The Beast and Kingfish...all sobo's.I've seen more thru hikers today than any other day since I've been up here in New England.I got to run into Sourdough and Cash at the new AMC bridge about a mile before Franconia Notch.It was great seeing Sourdough. He thought I had caught up to him from the south, but I explained that we flipped and are slowly making our way south.We talked for about 20 minutes before we had to get going so I could get to the PO in Glencliff before they closed at 5pm.Sourdough was planning on night hiking Lafayette tonight because of the full moon. Hope that works out for him because there's supposed to be some clouds coming in later.We walked under the Interstate 93 bridge, then about 15 minutes down a bike path and the Pemi Trail to get to Mrs Gorp's car in the parking lot.She didn't have any sodas on her hood like I had here the other day. :-)))We're done with the Whites and the really big mountains now. I've got the easier middle part of the AT left to do.We headed into N Woodstock and picked up a couple sodas, then drove over to the PO in Glencliff.A card from Shortcut was waiting on me there, but my mail from the last 6 months that my daughter-in-law sent wasn't.Oh well, the bills are all overdue anyway by now. :-)))Fat Chapp wasn't at the hostel to say goodbye to, so I'll have to call and talk to him later on.Mrs Gorp wanted to get going. She was heading for home in Vermont to take a break from the trail and see her cats, tomatoes and husband....but not necessarily in that order. :-)))I talked her into eating dinner with me in Glencliff before she left.The name has changed on the restaurant, but it's still a very good place to eat at.After dinner, I gave Mrs Gorp a great big hug and thanked her for getting me through Maine and NH, then she headed for home.I knew I was also taking a break from the trail now...after all, that's how this year's hike has gone for me from the very beginning. :-)))I decided to go ahead and drive some tonight, so I checked out my map and headed south.I got to Ct before I started getting tired.I was lucky and found a room at the Motel 6 for 45 bucks....that's cheap for a room in Ct.I'll do an update tomorrow about what my plans are and when I'm planning on finishing this hike....which will still be this year. :-)))Thanks Mrs Gorp/Yolanda Vega....I had lots of fun walking these last 400 miles with you. Hope I didn't hold you up too much. Ha!! :-)))