Date: 2018-08-17
From: South Arm Rd

To: Route 17 Oquossoc
Miles today: 13.2

I was up at 5:30 and walked over to Mills store at 6 am for breakfast. I enjoyed some excellent home fries with onions and a ham and cheddar omelet with coffee and a strawberry milk. Over my right shoulder in the middle of the dining area was a table filled with 6 men. Above them was a sign that said "Liars Table". I think these guys are regulars. The conversation was pretty funny and I enjoyed the small town vibe. I walked back to the hostel to catch the 7am shuttle. Today was a slack pack of 13 miles including Old Blue Mt. David the shuttle driver dropped us off at the trail head and gave us each an apple. It was a nice morning and the climb up Old Blue was actually nice. I topped Bemis Mt and stopped to eat the blueberries. Today was the first day in a long time that I could think about anything other than my feet on the trail. I thought about my life, my feelings, and about Brian. I stopped at the Bemis Mt shelter for lunch. Then I hiked up to the 2nd peak. The descent was rock a slabs and I was unhappy to see them. The rest of the terrain was mellow with small rolling ups and downs and I rolled along at a decent clip. A hiker traveling sobo and looking like Santa Claus approached and we stopped to talk. He had no pack and not even a bottle of water. His physique was not that of a hiker. He had hiked up a side trail and was covering a 1.5 mile section and had dropped his pack at the trail junction to hike the 1.5 and back. He was from Tennessee. Then he asked what I was doing and I told him I'm thru hiking on a flip flop and slack packing. He corrected me with a lecture on the origination and definition of slack packing. I found him a bit arrogant and my ears closed. Funny how that happens but I wished him a nice hike and moved on. Later River told me the opinionated Santa Claus dude was actually Warren Doyle out working on the completion of his 18th hike of the trail. She had taken a class from him on hiking the AT so I was happy for her that she was able to see and talk to him. She was really happy. At the bottom of the Long steep descent there was trail magic. We shared the last beer, a Miller High Life and ate some of the cherry tomatoes and signed the guest book. This trail magic couple even provided a hand mirror hanging on the tree. It was really cool, even if I don't like Miller beer, I did today. The subsequent river crossing was a little tricky but I made it! When David picked us up at route 17 he had cold lemonade for us. It was really nice. Cold and delicious. David tipped us off that tonight was prime rib at the Red Hen so we asked him to drop us there. It was 6pm and we were wet with sweat and stinky. I had a glass of wine because I was chilled and didn't feel like s beer and ordered the prime rib with mashed potatoes, green beans and pickled beets. It was absolutely delicious! After dinner I walked to Kate's Kones and got a sundae and then back to the hostel. I finished my sundae and then showered and got ready for bed. The hostel is full tonight and the Overflow bunk room too. We threw our clothes in the washer but it was nearly 10:30 by the time they were dry. A late night to bed and our shuttle leaves at 6am.