Date: 2011-08-02
From: Stratton, ME

To: Rangeley, ME (well actually back to Stratton)
Miles today: 32.2
Weather: light rain

July 27, 28, 29 th - ZERO ZERO ZEROJuly 30th I got back on the trail after two hot tubs, tons of food, bar hopping at Sugarloaf, and some down time infront of the TV.... however, this means that I really got behind Frogcatcher, Eric, S'myguess, and Keeps... I have no idea how I'll catch up to them now.... it was so hard to say bye to aunt Jennifer... it was like saying goodbye to my mom... she has been so kind to me, but I will see her in a few days when I come out in Rangeley. I hiked about 8 miles to the South Branch Carrabassett River ford, where I tented and had one of the worst nights ever, becuase I was the only one at the tent site.... truely alone... I hated it... I cried a lot.July 31st I was packing up my tentsite... feeling pretty down, but in the morning things start to feel better... when its light out. I see a flash of white through the woods, I stop dead... I'm thinking... oh know... its some hike of animal... and it was, a dog, who belonged to a couple. I stopped them before the crossing becuase I just wanted someone to talk to. Luckily they were SOOOO NICE to me! I did start crying again, and I explained my story, they agreed to wait for me to pack up and wanted me to hike with them! Nancy and Doug... some of the nicest people I have met, let me hike with them up to the Sugarloaf cut off trail (they were out for a day hike working on getting their New England 4000 footers) We talked the whole way up, and it felt really good to be with them. I truely poured my whole life story out to them and they talked about their life too, it was wonderful to have a few hours with them, they very much saved my day. After I left them I just kept running into people on the trail, I found I really just wanted to talk to anyone... everyone... I was so alone the night before I just needed it. I ran into three hikers (from England) who were so nice, one of them was working on his triple triple crown! I can only remember the woman's name, Katydid, who was so nice and told me to just keep going... people will always be on the trail and that sometimes she wants to be alone. (I can't imagine that at this point... but I'm sure its true) I made it to the Spaulding Mountain lean-to where I ran into Leave-on again where we ate lunch and chatted... again, nice to have someone to talk to. I was then about to leave lunch around 1:40 pm and still had another 8 mile to go that day when a man had just come from the next shelter and told me I wouldn't make it.... that I would be hiking in the dark to get there... I was so angry that he had told me that, and then I got scared that he might be right... but I moved on, he said it took him one hour to get to a trail junction and when I hit that junction I looked at my watch and it had taken me 20 minutes, thats when I knew I wouldn't hit the shelter in the dark... he was just a slower hiker (and I was about to go down hill for the next 4 miles) I made it to the Poplar Ridge lean-to just before 6pm... plenty of daylight left! I met Tutu and Face Jacket here where they helped to go through some of my stuff and help me try and lighten my load. They were very nice to give me their expert advice!August 1st I hiked over the Saddleback range and got really really sun burnt... oooppps.... at 11 am I had only gone 3 miles... and knew I needed about 8 more into Rangeley, luckily I hiked well after I got over Saddleback and made it down to the road around 4:15pm!!!! This is where I ran into this very nice couple who gave me a Heineken, cheese, crakers, and pepperoni! Oh and a very nice lawn chair to sit in!!!! It was great that they were there, because aunt Jennifer was stuck in traffic and got there around 4:45! We got talking found out the guy and I both went to Bates!!!! Small world got to love it. He reminisced about living in Page Hall and Rand Hall, two dorms I lived in myself! We talked about Paul Heroux, who was my Studio Art advisor, and was his professor as well! It was amazing to have that connection and amazing hospitality after a long day on the trail! Jennifer picked me up, we went back to Stratton where she lives and I hope to be back on the trail in a few hours, I really felt I needed to get caught up on this, hence the over flow of entries!Hope to catch up with Jared, Frogcatcher, Eric, S'myguess, and Keeps... I know there are a few SOBOs infront of me I hope to hike with too... Serenity, Turtle, and Crash Test... maybe I'll see them soon!!!!!!!