Date: 2006-08-08
From: The Barn, Gorham

To: The Barn, Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Spent some time this morning getting my food sorted out. Definitely have too much, even if I was not going to be hiking in an area with huts that provide food. Marta comes up to chat. She still has a cold but she is heading back out to the trail today anyway. I finish up my journals and head off to the phone to send my journals to the computer and learn that my batteries need replacing. Glad to find that out now rather than on the trail. Replace the batteries and then off to the library to use the internet to upload the journals. (By the way, I am using pocketmail to type up the journals and the keyboard is small and slightly configured differently than a regular laptop, so I apologize for any typos that slip by the editing process!)Journals updated and uploaded as well as a few pictures, then its back to the Barn to seam seal a slight hole in my hammock tarp and grease up my boots with water protection. I also stop by the payphone and make a few calls. I get to talk to Kelli and find out she is in her classroom getting all set up for back-to-school information day. Can't say I'm missing that! It's nice to catch up with a friend from home. Next, a final shower before leaving town. Dang, did not get to the post office before it closed. One last night at the Barn. By the way, Magnet, the Barn is not run by the same folks it was when you hiked the AT and is not quite as fun or as accomodating. I found the old trail register from '99 and saw your's and Wild Child's entries. I don't think my experience compares with yours.A new nobo has arrived while I was showering. His name is Chill and he is from West Virginia. He's older than me, yet he is friends with Scoot and the crowd that just left to go back to the trail. After a while, we are both hungry so we head down the street to Mr. Pizza. We sat at the bar, as we thought some other nobos Chill new came into town might be there (they were staying in a hotel). Our bartender's service was lacking. It was like we were invisible. But we did get served, and for those of you who were at my shower, my beer intake is well below the predicted number per month! I have, and did this evening, enjoyed a few local brews and I tried to keep my P.I.T. status at this meal as well. I ordered fried shrimp and french fries! I can feel my cholesterol levels rising before my meal is even served! The food is good and I am so stuffed, I can't even clean my plate. While we wait for the bill, I go to the payphone to check in with Steech at the hospital. Turns out he had a perforated ulcer. He's asleep so the nurse tells me. I'll try back in the morning. While I am on the phone, I notice that Chill's friends have come in and one of them is watching me. I go over to meet them and Bravefriend, the one watching me, says he knows me and has been looking for me along the trail. He remembers me from the REI AT clinics we went to in January. We catch up and chat a bit and then Chill and I head back to the Barn. (By the way Bravefriend, if you do check my trail journal, I think you are really hot!)I am really tired (too much beer and carbohydrates) and looking forward to turning in early and getting up early tomorrow and back on the trail. I can't believe I took almost three zeros! Totally not planned.Back at the Barn, Chill wants to stay up and chat, so I ask him to fill me in on the Whites, where to camp, which huts to go to, what towns to resupply in etc. He's had a bit to drink and other herbal intoxicants and reminds me of someone I know too well in personality and mannerisms. I indicate that I'm ready for bed and he heads downstairs. At last sleep. Golden Waldo is picking me up early and I want to be rested and ready!