Date: 2007-07-16
From: rainbow stream leanto

To: sandy beach
Miles today: 8.5

dist. sandy beachsleeping. cowboy, under the stairsDay 4Today started a lot different than it ended up. Last night I tweaked my backgetting firewood. I did something completly stupid and fell, but landed on myfeet. It was only about 3 feet. But it tweaked my back just enough.When I woke up it was still bothering me some. I stretched it out. I packed upslow and drank a lot of water. I think part of it was that I was a littledehydrated. I was going to try for 14 miles but elected to go with 8.5.It felt ok, but still hurting through out the day. I was also really low onenergy today. I really did not pack enoguh calories. Anyone else that may bereading this and doing a long hike or starting southbound, take extra food. Irelly regret not bringing olive oil or butter to add extra on.Today's hiking was slow. But at least the bugs were not too bad. Part of thatwas because I used some bug spray from the boys group that was staying there tocompletly fog myself. Next time I am bringing a family sized can of deet andspraying 2 times a day. I counted the bug bites on my legs today. I lost countat 80, just on my legs. 80 that is pretty crazy. The good part is none of themich.I did stop at a really col place for lunch. Going up Nesuntabunt mtn there wasa place where the trail was overlooking the lake a katadin. I got some reallycool pics of it in the distance. I think it is rainbow lake that has all osfamous distance pics I seen with water in the forground. I would would havestopped, but it was raining and pretty foggy at the time.Last night at the shelter I talked with everyone to see where they were going tostop. We talked about stopping at the beach next to the lake that was on my mapand companiom, but not the data book. I think the companion is way better.I walk up to the shelter to find Christen and Bre leaving askng about it. Wetake a short break there for my benifit and walked on. Sandy beach was only .1or so miles farther. There is a small sign that is hard to see. This place isgreat. It is right on the edge of the lake with about 15 feet of a small stonecovered beach. No sand, but small rocks to get all over you and sit on instead.For those keeping track I have not showered since wednessday before my bus ride. I am been wanting too for awhile but did not have a chance. But today I got mychance to swim. It felt great. The water was a toasty 50 something degreesthough. But it did the trick. I feel way cleaner.All 3 of us cleaned up and set up camp. There was a prefect spot for myhammock. We then set down and ate dinner. All of us were still pretty hungry.Bre was on a mission to find some food. After awhile she yelled over that shefood some. We debated for awhile about how to cook it or eat it. We themdecided to boil them over the campfire.I forgot to add that it was there turn to get firewood. I still collected a lotmore as she was getting some food. Which turned out to be for the best.After we boiled up some and it tasted really good, they talked for a minute andproduced stuff from their foodbag to make cowder Crazy how I go from beinghunry to stuffed on fresh cowder in the course of an hour.We all made comments about whether or not we were going to get sick aftereating. I said that it willprobibky be one person first and the other 2 willknow it is coming. Or I will wake up and be sick and look over and they will belosing their dinner too. The funny thing is they called me on this. This isthe first real negative comments I made. I am usually the optamist and the itwill all work out in the end guy. Funny how fast people can get to know you.Tonight is ending great. I had some really good conversaton. Plus my back isfeeling a lot better. I was really worried for awhile. My knee is also feelinggreat.We decided to cowboy camp next to the fire tonight. We were trying to think ofwhat would make this better. The only thing we could come up with is a coldbeverage or a natural hot spring to soak in. For once food was not on the list. So now I am on the shore of a lake in maine. With a full stomach. Not a cloudin the sky, but more stars than any of us have seen before. Sleeping next to acampfire. Truely trail magic (something unexpectantly good happens) at it'sbest. Tonight is going to be a hard night to beat.