Date: 2004-08-24
From: Tenting at Hikers Welcome Hostel, Glencliff, NH

To: Gorham, NH
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Zero miles todayNorthern Peaks MotelGorham, NHI got up at 4:40am and tried to catch up on some email. I'm way behind on that and phone calls to my relatives, so today I hope to catch up on some of that.Before it got light out, I went into the hostel to use the computer and check my other email address and pay my bills. I got by cheap this month in the bill department. I guess I was in the woods more and you can't spend money in the woods.It got light out and Moon Pie got up to make coffee. I would have done that earlier, but I didn't want to make any noise. I got up and went outside and got water for her and then walked down the road to the payphone. On my way there, I ran into Circuit Rider, KP and Sherlock. They were all walking down the road toward the trailhead. They must have slept in the woods somewhere up the road a bit. I gave Circuit Rider the message from Chief and we talked for a while, but they were all anxious to get on the trail. Circuit Rider has been off the trail for about a month and came up here to catch up with Sherlock. He said he will come back here and fill in the part he missed.They hiked on and I sent in my journal entry and got my email.I went back to the hostel and ate breakfast. I wasn't in any hurry to get ready because Lew was picking me up at about 10am to take me from Glencliff to where my truck is at in Gorham, NH. Lew showed up at 7:30am!! I wasn't ready, but it didn't take me long to get ready after I introduced him to all the hikers there.He's alot like me...always early. That's a good trait, Lew...thanks.After I packed up my backpack and took my tent down, I gave Moon Pie and Party Girl hugs goodbye and said goodbye to all the guys and we left.When we drove through N. Woodstock, NH we picked up a hiker by the name of Lady Bug and gave her a ride to the trail. Lady Bug, if you read this, I tried to sign your journal later, but I couldn't find it.Lew and I headed on and were busy talking. I expected the ride to take until at least noon, but we were in Gorham by 10am. It took me over a week to walk to Glencliff and only a couple hours to ride back in a car!!! That must be how LWOP the DewDrop does it. I've heard that he seems to always be in town at motels and then all of a sudden, he's back with his hiking partners 50 miles up the trail. The lady at the motel told me that 3 days after I left, LWOP the DewDrop paid his motel bill of 4 days and took my truck and she said that later the next day, a stranger brought it back and parked it. She went out to see what was going on and he said his name was Arther and that he was in Andover, Maine and a guy paid him to drive the truck back down here and park it. He said he didn't know the guys name that paid him to bring it back, but he remembered seeing a pair of ladies black lace bikini underwear sticking out of the guys pocket.He said it worked out great for him to drive the truck back here because he was on his way home to Kent, Ct. anyway.He also said that he remembered reading in the local newpaper in Kent, Ct. that there was this hiker that was hanging around the local laundry and he was seen opening a drier and taking a pair of black lace women's bikini underwear and leaving town in a hurry.Now I finally know the truth about those underwear. When I saw them hanging out of LWOP the DewDrop's pocket, I asked him about them and he told me that a girl that he met in a bar one night gave them to him the next morning to remember her by.LWOP the DewDrop, you should be ashamed of yourself!!! I checked into the motel in Gorham and I was so tired that I took a nap. When I woke up, I started making phone calls and was on the phone for about 2 1/2 hours. I got to talk to alot of my family and friends that I haven't talked to in a while. I'm not going to be hiking for about 9 days because I'm now on a little side trip from the A.T....I'm going to be making my way out to California to hike the John Muir Trail. I'm riding out there with Skeemer http://www.trailjournals.com/liteshoe/)and a few other hikers in Skeemer's motorhome.I owe alot to Skeemer for making all the plans, buying and sending out my resupply, making reservations at The Muir Ranch for lodging one night in the middle of the hike and keeping me informed of everything going on with that hike...and paying for everything. It sounds like it really took alot of planning and alot of work to get ready for it. I can't thank him enough...it wouldn't have been possible for me to make this trip without him and all he did.Hey Skeemer, remind me when we're passing by a McDonald's and I'll buy you a hamburger!!! I also have to thank Jan Liteshoe for getting all the permits secured. She took time out of her busy executive life and found out what we needed and took care of it. I owe you a big hug and yeah, I'll buy you a hamburgwr too.I can't believe how excited I am to take some time off from hiking to go hiking again!!! This day went by too fast...I still didn't get in touch with everyone, but I promise I'll get all caught up by tomorrow.Thanks again for picking me up and taking me back to my truck, Lew.Frogcaller, sorry I missed you...have a safe hike!!!Another great day near the A.T.