Date: 2003-07-28
From: Cooper Lodge 

To: Sherburne Pass Trail/Inn at the Long Trail 
Miles today: 8.2

Last night was quite interesting. As I was writing my journal, Space Monkey was playing guitar. He says he's not very good, but his playing was quite relaxing, in contrast to the whipping wind and fog. I like guitar music, and would like to learn to play someday. I was the last to turn out my light, around 9pm.At 10pm, I heard rain start to fall, and was momentarily thankful that I was in a shelter, as it was cool outside and I didn't want to be wet and cool. The moment started to fade when I heard water dripping into a puddle. I thought "Gee, I'm surprised I can hear that water dripping into the puddles outside. It sounds so close." Then it dawned on me... the water was dripping into puddles INSIDE the shelter! Crap! And my shoes and pack are down there somewhere! I grabbed my glasses and light, and surveyed the water. My pack was fine, but one of my shoes was full of water, so I dumped it out and turned both of my shoes over, out of the way of the cascade. As I was doing this, I realized there was water dripping on me. I was in a lower bunk, with Recycled, and Space Monkey was above me, next to Trailfrog. Space Monkey was shuffling around up there, trying to get out of the way of the water leaking in from the roof. It dripped into his area, then leaked down into my a! rea. Recycled had just gotten up to go pee, and moved over so I could get out of the way of the leak. I got as far out of the way as I could, but was still lying under a slower leak. Oh well. Amazingly, and luckily, the first burst of rain lasted barely 30 seconds, and there were a few, very brief showers after that, then no more. I kept warm in my bag, even though the foot of it was a little bit wet.In the morning, I noticed it was a lot cooler than the night. My cheapo thermometer read 43 degrees! No wonder we were all chilly this morning! It wasn't so much fun to put on damp, cold clothes, but I slept with them in my bag, so they weren't wet, just damp. I put my rain jacket on over my hiking clothes to keep some heat in. It wasn't long after I began hiking that I had to take the jacket off.I already had an idea for a change in our tentative hiking schedule. I wanted to stay at the Inn at the Long Trail. That way, I wouldn't be tempted to push to make Glencliff by Saturday morning. Plus, I could get a shower and dry out my sleeping bag. I mentioned to Hotdog, and at first he didn't say much. When we stopped for a break at Churchill Scott Shelter, about 4.4mi north of Cooper, I mentioned it again, and he said "Okay." So that was our new plan... take an easier day, and try to get a room.About 3mi later, we came to Maine Junction, where the AT turns east toward NH, and the Long Trail continues north toward Canada. Aahhh.. another milestone. I took some photos, and we moved on. I had cheeseburgers on my mind! We reached Sherburne Pass Trail, which was the old AT/Long Trail, and headed the 0.5mi toward the Inn. Mmmm... almost there!Rooms were available, and lunch was great! We met Space Monkey's parents, who have been reading our journals to find out approximately where their son is. He started the same day as us, and yet last night was the first night we shared a shelter or campsite! Amazing. Recycled is here, as planned, and Mylo and Nuke are here too, which I did not expect. I think the unexpected cool temps and damp night in the shelter convinced many to come here. The draw of real food and an Irish Pub might have helped too. Puff Puff and Snappy are here too, along with other hikers.After lunch, we showered and did laundry, sitting in a room downstairs watching TV. Hotdog received a phone call at the front desk (there are no phones in the rooms) and wondered who would be calling him here, as he'd told no one! It was Sawnie/Kinnickinic, who we know from a hikers Yahoo group! She has been doing some hiking on the AT, and knew we'd be coming along. When Trailfrog passed through the State Park where she's staying, she found out we were here, and called. Around 6pm, she came by, and we had dinner here, chatting about the trail and people on and around the trail. We talked for 3 hours, and finally had to call it a night. But not before she took sandwich orders from us for lunch tomorrow. We'll pass through the camping area tomorrow morning, then she'll meet us about an hour later to deliver lunch! What a great lady! It is awesome to meet her, and so kind of her to help us out!I keep mentioning how much others have helped me out, especially strangers. It is just amazing to me! I hope I've conveyed to them personally how grateful I am. I know I cannot repay them for their help, but I will try to pay it forward and help other hikers after I finish this year, and in years to come. A ride to town, or a soda in a stream mean so much, and I can't say how much it means to be given shelter, food, and showers, when it seems the most unlikely. Unbelievable!Lately, people I've met on the trail, mostly dayhikers, can't believe that we've hiked from Georgia, over 140 days on the trail. Several have said "You look too good to have been out for so long." I don't know what they mean by that, but I take it as a compliment. I don't feel that I've changed much physically, although I know I am stronger than I was. Kinnickinic told me that I looked "softer in person", and I wonder what that means also, although I take that as a compliment too. I just like talking to people about the trail. It's fun to meet new people, especially those that don't have a clue how long the AT is, or where it goes. I was one of those people 8 years ago and someone planted a seed in my head. Maybe I am doing the same for someone else. I certainly hope so, as they will never regret giving it a shot! I know I haven't!