Date: 2021-07-13
From: Pinkham Notch (mile 319.4)

To: Pinkham Notch (mile 319.4)
Miles today: 0.0

First zero since Rangeley, ten days ago. Though I've barely hiked more than 10 or 12 miles a day since so it's a guilty pleasure. More to stay on pace with my tramily than anything else. But I've grown fond of zeroes. When I section-hiked, zeroes were an unnecessary and unscheduled luxury, and I was too antsy to do more than a nero on most trips. During my thruhike I zeroed only twice in the first nine weeks and 1200 miles. But mental weariness made rest days more important in New England. I zeroed four or five days in New Hampshire and Maine last year. On this trip I've already taken three zeroes and several neros. Alias had found a gym in town to work on his upper body a couple of days ago. This seemed mildly attractive, as I've been lax in getting my exercises in at the shelters. But the clincher was the hot tub, pool, and sauna. All for ten bucks for the day. So Beach Day, Prepack, Alias, Joseph and I spent several hours availing ourselves of all of the fitness center's services. Bait hiked out this morning. From the 170 degree sauna to the hot tub to the pool and back again. I got some reps in on the Nautilus machine so my pecs and biceps aren't completely neglected on this hike. I even snuck around back to jump in the Androscoggin River to get my swim in. Pools don't count. Only natural water sources. The Androscoggin here was the first to have a strong current. It has a shallow and rocky bottom but runs fairly clear.We followed the gym with the Chinese buffet, only ten bucks for all you can eat. Gorham is a great town for thruhikers! Resupplied at the Dollar General, and saw numerous new hikers coming through. I walked to the post office next door on a whim to see who was hanging out in front and was reunited with Adam, who I last saw in Monson and think of as Trip Leader after his hiking shirt. But now they call him Tarzan because he carries no poles and just swings around the trees. With him were Zombie and Timber, the two girls who had been holed up at the Sterling Inn while Timber's foot healed. They just arrived and planned to zero tomorrow but, to save on lodging, were going to tent behind Walmart tonight. I'm unlikely to see them again. Gorham serves a unique role in bringing together groups that are several days apart on trail. Beach Day and I threw the hostel's frisbee around in the park across the street. He played a lot of Ultimate Frisbee in school but hadn't had a game since before Covid. He skunked me in ping pong yesterday, and checkers back at Gentian Pond. A man of many talents. Either that or I've gotten rusty. A NOBO couple, the same one that passed me by Carter Notch Hut two evenings ago, was helping Wonder and Pippi lighten their packs, doing pack shakedowns. Wonder's sister came to whisk her group away for a night off trail.The town held a concert in the park this evening. Two locals, a singer and an acoustic guitarist, covered favorites like Country Road, Hotel California, Beatles, Sweet Caroline, and much more. Fun time. Several dozen locals set up on the lawn. A handful were dancing, mostly some children and adults with developmental disabilities who were being encouraged by their caretakers to enjoy themselves. It was endearing to watch. Gorham seems to be a strong and family-oriented community, the kind of small town America was built on. Chatted with a young guy from Israel named Ehud back at the hostel who is northbound. Plans to work at an AMC hut this August when he finishes his hike - to see all the hikers he passed, as he put it - then will hike the Colorado trail. Maybe I'll see him out there.