Date: 2002-08-06
From: Maine

To: GA
Miles today: 12.0

August 6, 2002Got up at 5 this morning. Put moleskin on my feet and duck tape. Takes me forever to break camp it seems like but I had a terrible spot. There were a whole bunch of kids from some adventure thing and they were back and forth, back and forth, talking by my tent. They kicked one my tent stakes and then I finally said take another route will ya. And then they had to talk till about 10:30, giggle and laugh. So this morning when I got up, I made all the noise I could. I hope I got them up. I got going about 6 am. Nice cool morning rained during the night. I was worried it would rain too much, because I was camped in kind of a little sinkhole. But it was a nice gentle rain. Had ramen shrimp noodles for breakfast with mash potatoes mixed in with it.   Wasn¢t bad. I don¢t have much of an appetite for some reason. I didn¢t even have tea. Have a couple of power bars and will stop and eat one of those about an hour down the trail.   I have got a mountain to climb yet today and then it looks fairly easy going to Monson. Don¢t know how are I will get today.   Kind of cool today, should have put my other shirt on but it warms up when you start climbing and walking.   Met 3 gentlemen climbers on the trail here from Britain. They had quite an accent. 2 of the younger fellers something of the Universe and the older fella was Sugarberry and what a character he was. I told them my trail name was Pa Kettle and they didn¢t know what that was being from Britain. So I had to explain that to them. And it was interesting to talk to them. Just met a gentleman 67 years old, his name is Big Scout. Real friendly from Georgia and he is going northbound with his friends, just section hiking. Met his friend Bob his trail name is Lonehawk.   He is a retired Banker.   Met some more northbounders today, names are Simon and Leah. Simon has a girlfriend from Ames, Elizabeth Andr© and she lives on McArthy Avenue. It¢s a small world; her mother is Catherine Andr©.   Simon is with Outward Bound and him and Leah are the leader of a big group. Met them at the area of the South Pound lean too around 9 am.   There¢s a thunderstorm here, have to cover my pack and get everything in plastic.   I walk 2 miles out of my way today, should have known better.   There weren¢t any blazes and it was a regular road and I thought they probably don¢t need any blazes on this road. What a dummy I was. Finally come back, if I had any rougher days in my life, I don¢t know what they would be.   I started at 6 this morning and I kept going and going and looking for water and I should have stopped at this one shelter and I thought to myself it is only 3 in the afternoon, I can make a few miles. No water, no campsite. Ask a couple on the trail and they said yeah there is nice place by Wilson Falls.   I could not find it anywhere. There was not any place there. But I should have filled up with water before I left. That was stupid. No I had to keep going, just knew there would be stream somewhere and damn if I could find any.   I ran into rain and it¢s 10 minutes to 9 and pitched my tent in the rain and here I sit, nothing to eat.   I do have a power bar. But my own stupidity, I should have stopped to get the water instead of assuming I would find some. Live and learn I guess.   I don¢t know what¢s the matter with me. But I do have enough water to drink tonight.