Date: 2004-07-27
From: The Cabin, Andover, Maine

To: The Cabin, Andover, Maine
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

10.2 miles todayThe CabinAndover, MaineI went downstairs because I thought I smelled breakfast...I was right. It was a little before 6am and I was the first one for breakfast, but soon there was Comfortably Numb and then Rambunny. There was blueberry pancakes, aggs, bacon, fresh biscuits, cantelope, oj and coffee. While I was eating, Mountain Mama and Bag Lady came in. They were all going to Grafton Notch and walking 10 miles back. Yep, they twisted my arm...what could I do?? I agreed to come back and spend another night. Didn't have anything to do with breakfast. Everything happened quick after breakfast and we were heading to Grafton Notch before long. I started hiking at 8am. Mountain Mama and Bag Lady warned me that they only walked one mph and they were gone like a flash. I hung around the Notch for a while and looked through the register. I saw that Packrat and Hoplite had been there just before me and heading my way. I started climbing up the mountain and before long, I passed the girls. I was having a tough climb for the first hour because I'm not used to a big breakfast. I've only been eating one breakfast bar in the morning. I paid for that large breakfast, but it was so beautiful climbing Bald Pate Mountain that I soon forgot about my stomach. I got to Bald Pate Mountain Lean-to and took a 30 minute break. That set the tone for the rest of the hike today....hike a little and stop alot. I started climbing again and passed the girls again. I ran into Caveman and then Giddy Up and Commando. They liked the name I pinned on their group of five....The Slobos, although that makes me look bad because they are always in front of me. The other two that belong to that group is Lunchbox and Cobweb, but those two were living up to their new reputation and weren't anywhere near here yet. The three of us talked for a while and I found out they were going to hitch 17 miles into town from Grafton Notch.I passed a trail crew that was doing a new relo that should be ready in about 2 years. They said they were trying to make it so the climb wasn't so steep. I hiked the rest of the way up Bald Pate and I could see from a distance that WoodRat, Cobweb and Lunchbox were siting at the summit. I saw them glance at me, but they thought I was a nobo. They didn't recognize me until I got close and then they all started laughing and repeating...Stumpknocker, Stumpknocker, Stumpknocker. That seems to be their greeting for me now every time they see me. I sat down and we talked and enjoyed the views for a little over an hour. This is my third favorite mountain on the whole trail and it didn't disappoint today...it was absolutely beautiful out today. It had drizzled most of the way up, but didn't rain any while we were on top. I got some pictures that I'll post as soon as I get back to Monson on my way back to do the wilderness with John Galt. I started getting cold from the cool air and the wind blowing, so I started hiking just after Comfortably Numb and Rabbit got up there. I was having another one of my best days on the trail. I can remember everytime I've climbed this mountain and I can remember anyone who was around. In '02, Badger climbed it with me and in '03, it was Dr. Dolittle and her two dogs, Tristan and Maggie. This year was the five hikers I've already mentioned and I watched as Mountain Mama and Bag Lady got close. They were doing really well with their hike today. They are on their 23rd year of doing sections of the A.T. and they have less than 100 miles to go to be done. I hiked down and I was still walking in slow motion. It's so nice to enjoy where you are at as much as I do. I ran into Adrienne and we talked for about 30 minutes. She said that Suntag was behind her today, but that I should see him soon.I got to the next lean-to and he was there. He was hiking like me today...in no particular hurry to get anywhere. We talked about 20 minutes and the girls showed up. I ate a little more lunch and hiked on. They thought they would be to East B Hill Road around 5pm. We had 4 1/2 miles to go.It rained most of the afternoon, but I have to say that I love walking through the forest in the rain.I walked very quietly today, trying to see more moose, but I didn't see any. I got to the road at 4:20 and Aqua was there in the truck sleeping. After he woke up we talked a while and then I got in the truck and took a 15 minute catnap. The girls showed up at 5:30 and were excited about geting there so early. We were all hungry, so we didn't waist any time getting the truck and heading back to The Cabin. I couldn't believe it when I walked in. There was The Ax Murderer's...Lady Di, Purple Rose and Zig Zag. They are some section hiking ladies that I ran into a number of times when Liteshoe and I were doing a section hike in Tn. They said they took on the group name of The Ax Murderer's because they all met on the internet to form their hiking group.I had 10 minutes before dinner, so I ran upstairs and took a shower. We had spagetti, garlic bread, corn on the cob and a salad tonight and of course, desert.After dinner, Joel got out the guitar and played some songs and then he got out a fiddle and played Amazing Grace and he was very good at it. Bear, Honey, Purple Rose, Mountain Mama and a hiker that I hiked around last year, Ameoba and I were there enjoying the music.Rambunny wanted me to watch a movie, so I stayed downstairs and watched about half of it...I have a short attention span for movies. I excused myself and came up here to my room, so I could get this journal entry wrote before I hike out in the morning. It would be hard to beat a day like today. I have been planning a long distance bicycle ride for next year, but all I could think about today was starting a nobo thru hike on Jan. 1st. I've got lots of time to think about that. I have to be careful because someone will probably try to have me committed. Another great day on the A.T.