Date: 2013-09-03
From: Rangeley Inn, ME

To: Passed Saddleback Horn, ME 
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: light rain

100 days on the trail and past our halfway point so we are good! We loved Rangeley and were sad to leave its comforts. No more Thai tea, nice decor and clean sheets. We might just not stop for laundry or showers until we meet Blueberry and Grammie. We want to hike and make it on time for a special friends wedding. (Sept. 21) Won't that make for a pleasant reunion?! The family better really be missing us to overcome our odor.We were spotted by Sky Pilot, who gave us a whistle. We were so happy to see him, BooBoo and Cash. They were looking for Sherpa who was in the coffee shop. She gave them a ride and then she offered us one. What a trail angel she is to all of us! We had to eat so we did at the coffee shop called "Inner Eye". It was the original pharmacy. They incorporated many of the old Pharmacy items into the shop. It very modern and artistic. The food was absolutely delicious and all homemade and the coffee perfect. Nice people inside too. We could sit on counter stools looking out of the windows onto the street. We saw several backpackers that we knew. Everyone seemed to come in on Sunday and lay low and tuck in for the storms on Monday. Today started off sunny with glowing blue skies. By the time we ate, went to the Post Office, got our packages, and then returned to the hotel and back it was late. You never notice when you have a car but errands take much longer when you have to walk everywhere. I also took another shower because I could and also because my hubbie sent conditioner (sigh of happiness, my hair is a straw fuzz ball ) and a razor. My European pits are gone (sigh of relief). Sherpa generously gave us a ride the 9+ miles out of town and back to the trail. Our feet and backs groaned at the weight. Three days of slack packing and a zero made them lazy. Also since the towns in Maine are so far from the trail we bought a lot of food. We thought it would save us time from hitching (which I really don't like doing with the girls) in and out of a town to get food. The only problem is that we are bow-legged under the weight. If we start to tip we just topple over. We are trying to eat all the heavy stuff first. We also have apples and a bear of honey so we can celebrate Rosh Hashana. Why we didn't buy dried apples I'm not sure, though perhaps it would feel less authentic. So now I wonder if we packed lighter maybe we'd move faster thus compensating for the town time. We will have to see how we do. So far not so good. We started hiking at 12:30 and finished at 8:00, again in the dark. Lord of the Flame we ask your forgiveness for our transgressions. We truly tried to make it but the food slowed us down. We only made 8 miles so we are very disappointed. It rained on us, we climbed a long mt called Saddleback and then Saddleback Horn. We camped .7 miles from the Horn because of the dark and wet. It is pouring outside right now as I write this. I took two hard falls today and feel positively beaten up. I had to fight back the tears so I would t scare the girls. Tears more of frustration than pain. We needed to go further today but just couldn't. We need some sunny days and then to get out early. We also walked mostly in a rock river, the path just became a constantly flowing stream with occasional mud pits, all of which are slick and tricky. Luckily the clouds lifted and we saw what can only be called "a breathtaking view". We stood on the mountain and looked down on sun-reflected lakes and ponds dotting the alpine mountains. I asked the girls to estimate how many people they thought were out there. We could not see or hear any evidence of people. We laughed and said far less than one day of people at Disney World or a Gator football game. We feel very remote and removed from civilization already. We were able to see the most unique weather today with some mountains lit up by sun while others were misted over in rapidly blowing fog. The conditions changed rapidly. By the time it got dark we were able to set up the tent and cook dinner without rain. As soon as we hung our bags and brushed our teeth the rain came. We feel all warm and snugly in our tent. We did buy new boots for me and Cub because we are slipping so much in our Keens. The selection was limited but Cub ended up with huge Merrill ankle boots in blue. She loves them because she can splash in the mud without it oozing in as easily. Badonkadonk and I have mud speckled legs due to Cubs affection for stomping mud pits. My new shoes are The North Face. They grip much better but are too light for the load and don't seem to help my pad foot pain. I am worried I fell so much because they aren't substantial enough. Guess I'll give it a few days to see. No matter what I a stuck. I need a boot with a serious ability to grip and thick padding under the balls of my feet. Anyone got any recommendations? Hope to catch up to BuddyBackpacker tomorrow and also our other friends. Mongoose should catch us tomorrow too. It is such a relief to be surrounded by such good people, especially in this section. I'll write more about that later. The rain is making me sleepy. The girls are already fast asleep.Yesterday on Saddleback Mt someone took rocks and spelled: "ALMOST..."