Date: 2012-09-07
From: South Fork of the Carrabassett

To: Stratton Pond Road
Miles today: 9.2

Beautiful sunny day with clear blue skies...no clouds in sight...temperature in the low 70's...in other words...a perfect day!! 7 of us ate breakfast together at the diner across the street...Still Joe, Wooly, Big Foot, Nice Lady,SOS, and another guy all talked and talked until everyone decided it was time to get hiking. I drove my hikers 9 miles..5 on a nice highway and 4 on a rough road to the place where we could go no farther because of cement barriers. I walked with them for a ways and then turned back to drive back to the motel.I wrote postcards, walked to the post office, went to the grocery, talked to hikers, shuttled Frenchie and Sling Shot to their trail head, straightened the room, and knitted on my triangle scarf that is going very slowly. When I dropped off Frenchy and Sling Shot, we talked for a while and here came SOS and Nice Lady who were passing through on their way to the pick up spot. I drove to the pick up spot, put on my basically unused hiking boots, and headed out on the trail to meet them...happy as a little lark (whatever that means...:-) I passed Frenchy and Sling Shot and then got to SOS and Nice Lady. We hiked back to the car together and drove back into town. I had purchased some food for dinner so I fixed it while the hikers showered...we ate...relaxed and slept.SOS here:The raging river was revisited today and was much tamer. Today I approached it from the other side and crossed it going south and then recrossed it going north. This was important to me to not leave any gaps in the AT thru hike. My pledgers would never know I skipped it, but I would. I said I would hike the whole trail and I will. My Dad and Mom taught me integrity is priceless and to never cut corners on it. I believe this is one of the most valuable character traits they ever taught me. I love how they taught me that fact not only by voicing it but living it in their own lives. How blessed I and my siblings are to have been the children of Jim and Carol Summers.Nice Lady and I only have a little over 20 miles of mountains to hike until we reach mostly level hiking; until we reach Katahdin. I can hardly wait.Each day is a new gift from God, I choose to cherish each day and pray that it will bring something or someone special into my life. Someone special into your life may be a new baby or a delightfully saged, with many years of life, person.One of the most delightful older persons I have ever met, who Trail Mama and I were always pleased to spend time with, was Edith Chloe Burroughs. Trail Mama and I were blessed to share the last 6 years of her life. The last 6 years of her life were spent at Christian Care in Bluffton IN.Edith was always pleased to see us and would usually ask us where we had been since we had last seen her - Trail Mama and I loved to travel.She would sit in the front seat of our car and read the signs out loud as we drove down the road. She always appreciated the attention. What she did not realize, I believe is that we enjoyed being around her.Many times we would pick her up and take her out to eat. She liked to go to Richard's Restaurant in Bluffton. She loved the pickled eggs they had on the salad bar and also loved onion rings. One time trying to give her variety, we took her to a chinese restaurant, mistake.My fondest memory of Edith is the last picture taken of her and I together, a week before she went to be with God. Just before the picture was taken she kissed me on the cheek; she had never done that before. I had this surprised look on my face and she had this look of pure glee on her face. I loved that lady and I believe she loved me. Trail Mama has preserved that moment for me with a special gift. Trail Mama had a stuffed bear made for me out of Edith's winter coat and around the bears neck, in a picture holder, is that last picture. WOW is it fantastic. I miss that grand lady, but I have no doubt she is with God and her husband, daughter and granddaughter in Heaven. She showed me how gracious you can be in tough circumstances. Goodnight.