Date: 2007-08-07
To: Main Street House
Miles today: 8.4

mi. 8.7sleep. hosteldest. Main Street Houseday 26I got a later start. I woke up early and puttered around. I did make coffeeand breakfest though. One thing that worked out really well for me is anorthbounder by the name of Jeresy going a long section hike gave me her fuelcanister. I talked to her to see if anywhere in andover had any and she saidno. But she picked up an extra one and gave me the one she was using. She onlyboils once a day and it was one of the bigger ones. She picked up a new onethinking she would need it by now. Funny how things work out.I ended up giving clay the lite smarwool long sleeve shirt I have for hiking. Igot it on sale for around $20 and was only going to mail it home. I picked upmy polypro stuff today in Andover. He only had his hiking stuff. I figured heneeded it more and I wouldn't really wear it after my hike anyways. It allseems to come full circle.The hiking today was not too hard. I think though my scale on what is hard andwhat isn't changed a lot over the last few weeks. There were 2 more peaks tocross and one to skate in the Bemis range. The mountain had 5 peaks and wascalled a range. Although we were all calling it the Bevis mountain. What gotme was only a little part of the last peak was a bald. The rest were allcovered in trees. Of course i had to go over all the exposed areas in thethunderstorm.The walk down wasn't too bad. But it was like walking down a water slide. There were good sections of flat rock down hill with water running down it, andothers were like a small river covered in small rocks. Others were flat boggyareas. All in all fun hiking.The downhill to the road wasnkt as bad as the map suggested. There were a lotof switchbacks.I got down to the road just after 2pm. Good thing too. I only had a littlegorp, some tic tacs, and coffee left in the food bag. Andover was 9 miles away. No way I was going to walk. The first car pasted me and said something. Itlooked pretty loaded down pulling a boat. For about 25 more minutes all thecars went in the wrong direction. The 2nd vehicle to pass stopped. A pickup. The guy said he could get me to the end of the road about a mile from town. Noway I was going to pass that up. The road btw was all of a country road. Itdidn't even had painted lines.He dropped me off and I thinked him. He pointed me in the direction of town. Istarted road walking. It wasn't too bad. A welcome change from the trail. Onthe way I passed a few green apple trees. A nice little treat that made thewalk worth it.I got to a general store. This town is really small. Probibly the smallestyet. Just 2 roads and a couple hundred people. I called the cabin and askedthem about picking me up. They said they were all full. Too many peopleslackpacking or staying multiple days Io guess. I am going to get that more andmore as I head south. I heard the pack of northbounders is only a couple weeksout for me. Btw slackpacking is when someone drops you off at the trailhead andyou only hike with a lite day pack and they pick you up later. The idea is youwill do more miles with a lighter weight, then stay in town a second night. Notreally my thing.I got my room at the Andover Guest house. Not to bad for $25. The other 3 guysstopped in here then went over to Pine Ellis, the other big hostel here. Theysaid it didn't look very clean.I did score some good food and a couple beverages from the diner/general store. Word has it the Market food store's food is a little iffy. We did buy somebeverages there. What cracked me up was they had a pelet gun behind thecounter. One of the rifle ones you have to pumop. We comment on it and theysaid it was for the chipmunks. I think they just mean business.I got a chance to check in and see how a lot of people are reading this, Ithought it might be my mom a bunch of times, but I was told she reads the emailsafter I send them. Which got me thinking. If you are reading my trailjournal. Please sign my guest book. I'm curisous to see how many and who are reading it.Well off to relax and have a few. I haven't yet on this journy, but we aredrinking at the hostel. This place is great. Joel the owner really cracks meup. He is a little spacey, but really funy to talk to. There is also a lot ofmusical instriments here. Apparently on the third floor they have a full drumset and multiple gaitars. A lot of the northbounders I passed where talkingabout it. If you play any they is the place tobe. It sounds like it couold bea party spot too if you are into that.Now off to enjoy and relax.