Date: 2009-08-22
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to

To: Rangeley, Maine
Miles today: 9.7
Weather: light rain

Tmax for Topofgothics... Short hike into Rangeley. Phone has shorted out on him so we are a little concerned about maintaining communication but Topofgothics will call tech support. He's staying at the Gull Pond Lodge and trying to decide if he will zero or not tomorrow.   ****Finally an easy day. Kind of. All I had to do was kick ass for just under ten miles, then secure a hitch of another ten miles or so, and get to the post office before they closed (it is Saturday) at 11:30 so I could send home two pounds of stuff that I would not need for the last 220 miles. Simple. A kind lady picked me up without to much waiting on my part (does my beardless face help me in getting rides? I know I am often questioned ¢you are a thru-hiker¢ when seen without whiskers) and there were many minutes to spare at the post office. The plan was to stay at Gull Pond, a wonderful place run by and old man named Bob. When I told him of my predicament (the money was being mailed to Monson, a week down the line), that I was all but out of cash, that I did have a credit card, and that I could mail him a check (or have Terri do it for me through my bank), he told me not to worry, that I could take care of it after I finished, and to enjoy my stay at the pond. He was awesome, as good as the others I put on that high pedestal from this journey. Tin Man was also at the Lodge, were waited for Gaston to return from a wedding he was attending back home. As I unwound, the reality of the last weeks set in, and my feet were getting very sore. I decided to take one last zero at this wonderful little haven. The place was pleasant and the company was great (even Veggie Steve was all right, but he has to learn to talk less and think more). Veggie went on a canoe ride Sunday, with the wind, and was gone for over three hours. He dumped it twice and lost his glasses trying to get back. I had started to worry. I decided to not take the boat for a row. For some reason, when I tried to charge my cell phone batteries, they began to give me apoplectic fits. I told you Maine had weird things going on in it (which also explains southbounders). The phone would indicate that the battery was being charged, and then a half-minute later it would shut off. I had two manufacturers batteries, and one aftermarket. The aftermarket charged without a problem, but the other two would not. An hour later, I called my carrier and asked for help. The woman on the other end of the line thought it might be a battery problem. One battery acting funny? Maybe. Two and I think not. She offered to send me a replacement battery, and when I gave her a P.O. address, I was informed that a physical address was needed. Since that is impossible out here on the trail, my frustration level began to rise even higher (side note: after I finished my hike, I took the phone to a outlet, and a tech told me that the phone¢s quirkiness was due to water damage (go figure, being out here in the wet for months on end) and although it was not officially covered (and a new phone would cost at least $280), he would do me a courtesy and replace mine for me. How swell of them)). I offered her my thanks, if somewhat sarcastically, and hung up. Just for S&G¢s I fully charged the aftermarket, and that took without a problem. Being one that is often full of hope, I put a different battery in and hooked up the charger. To my astonishment, the thing actually fully charged. So did the last one. Maine.      That day Bear came in, a pretty woman from Holland. It turned out that she was waiting on Mischa, who was almost two days behind. She had done the first 500 miles with him before she had to rerntu home. It looked like she was built for the trail. Now she was returning to finish with him. She was very dynamic, and another of Mischa¢s ¢girls¢. I said little, knowing that there was at least on other I noticed him with. Veggie was not so politic. Right off the bat he said that ¢yeah, he was with another girl not too long ago¢. Bear knew that a friend had joined him on the trail for a spell, a dark haired girl, but veggie insisted that she was a blonde and that they were together. That man¢s mouth needs a governor.