Date: 2008-06-12
From: Shaws Hostel, Monson ME

To: Horseshoe Canyon
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

OK... so it has been 3 days since I've made a new entry, or acomplished any miles. I am embarrassed to explain why, but I must. Sooo, everything was looking good when Jeff dropped me off here at Shaws Hostel in Monson. I woke up in the morning to bacon, sausage, blueberry pancakes, homefries, eggs, OJ, coffee; perfect by all measures. I had a great nites sleep and was eager to resupply and go back on the trail on the following morning. I ventured off to the post office to recieve my first mail drop from Rick (my brother). Upon my request for the package the post master asked for I.D. I reached in to my pocket and... no wallet. He let me take the packages with some basic questions and answers based on where the packages came from but warned me that other places on the trail would 100% requre I.D.I went back to Shaws and tore my gear apart. I traced all of my steps from the nite before and could not find the wallet. The situation quickly esculated in to a raging problem. I had no I.D., no cash ($100 in wallet), no ATM, no calling card. Dawn quickly esculated the problem and had other hikers helping search. I went back to the conviniece store where Jeff and I got subs the nite before and they posted a little missing wallet sighn. I also went to the fire station and post office to see if anyone had turned one in. They also posted a small missing wallet sight outside in their town bulleten board. Everyone was very helpful and sympathetic.I feel bad because I called Jeff 10 times and drilled him to look in his Jeep harder. It wasn't that I doubted that he hadn't looked thoroughly. I was beginning to lose it and had checked the same spots 100 times. I was becoming nurotic. The only solution to me getting cash in my pocket to get back on the trail was to have my mother write a personal check to the Hostel owner (Dawn). Then Dawn would cashe the check and give me the money. In the mean time I was to cancel all CCD's and order a new license. My father overnighted the check on Wednesday but the MA post master explained to him that Monson was so remote that the best they could do was guarentee Friday delivery. So I have been in town here for 3 days trying to fix my trail journals acct. (which I think I acomplished!), pairing down my gear (looking foe ways to eliminate weight) and kicking myself in the ass for being such a moron to lose my wallet in such critical conditions. Losing things is the story of my life for anyone who does not know that about me.I could go on about my expiriences here in Monson but I won't. I found my wallet this morning in a rocking chair at the hostel. I woke up with the thought "look in the rocking chair, it rolls back pretty far and while you were sitting it could have slipped out". Dawn and myself had already checked there several times... but this time, there it was. I was excited but also so frustrated.I'm back in action now. I'm all settled up with the hostel. I just took one last shower. I resupplied at the general store. I fixed the trail journal and I feel strong and am fully recovered. I have arranged to be dropped off at the trail head for 12 noon!My destination is Horshe Canyon today. It's a 8.9 mile hike to a Lean-to.I will be back in town in aprox. 4-6 days in Straton ME. I will update the journal then.Some fellow hikers (Dozer & Vagus) headed Northbound this morning renamed me Lost n' Found. I like it, it certainly suits me. I'm still deciding if I'm going to change over to it.