Date: 2006-06-05
From: Matts Creek Shelter

To: Irish Creek Footbridge
Miles today: 17.1

Crossed the Bill Foot Bridge and found other hikers who had tried to hitch in to Glasgow the night before. They were trying again this morning. Eventually they started walking the other way to a campground. It was a hard hitch. There were too many of us. Mulligan, Montreal, Spitball, and Sleep Walker walked down to a wide spot. I talked to a guy that worked for the rail road. At first I thought he was going to give me a ride, but he said he had just made a wrong turn and had to do something. If I wanted though, he offered, he'd be back in 20 minutes and give me a ride. He kept his promise and I waved down the road cause he had room for another hiker. Montreal was the closest, but Spitball was running to see if he could squeeze in too. I felt really bad leaving him there along side the road. But off we went. The guy was cool, he reminded me of Jed or Beau Bridges from the movie "Red Dawn". Gave us some water when he dropped us off in Glasgow. I grabbed a milkshake and a muffin cake from the Petro, got fuel at the grocery express, resupplied. Got a new journal and summer sausage at the dollar store and mailed home my fleece, rain pants, wind breaker, and 2 prs of socks. I watched as 42 repacked her mail drop. Montreal hitched out after a 20 minute wait. I hung around at the grocery express with Mulligan, Grits, Kenny and Julia, Spitball, and the Mud Boggers. We'd go buy something to eat at the store, come outside on the grass and eat it. Then go back and look for something else. I went in at least 4 times ending up with frozen salisbury steak dinner heated in the microwave. What we really wanted was a restaurant. Anyways, We were hanging out and the Mud Bogger Sr. was trying to get somebody to learn to juggle. Not being afraid to try something new, I took a stab at it. It was kinda cool. I did get to where I could make 12 catches in a row. It was good entertainment for the rest anyways. Finally hitched back to the trail after only a 5 minute wait. (Julie is really good at getting hitches). A couple section hikers were headed our way Plato and Professor. It was still sunny, but there were a few rain drops. It is always a hard climb out of town but there were nice views. Caught up to Mulligan, Grits, Montreal, and Willow. Grits don't like his photo taken and he don't like internet. Anyways, Passed a memorial for a lost kid, a huge chestnut Oak and decided to camp near the Irish creek suspension bridge. I actually hung my hammock from the bridge, since there were "No tresspassing" signs everywhere just 3 feet off the trail on each side. It wasn't the most friendly sort of feeling. Washed up in the creek and rinsed out my clothes. I thought Willow was going to camp with us, but she has to be somewhere and moved on ahead. That left Montreal, Kenny and Julia and Spitball to battle whoever showed up in the night to run us off. I chipped a tooth eating some hard candy and it's kinda sharp. Anyways, cooked up some ramen and went to bed. During the night, it sounded like a bear walked down the creek. I heard turtles dropping into the river or was it rats falling from the food bags? Spitball got up to investigate. I could hear his footsteps above me. Anyways, it was the worst nights sleep.