Date: 2006-07-21
From: DONE

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

There¢s never a dull moment on the Appalachian Trail. some where between a bunch of random thoughts yesterday and this morning FDR, Mule and I figured that it was cheaper to rent a car for the whole weekend then to get a room in Kent, CT for just one night. We bounced around the idea of getting a car and going to the beach. It sounded temping but not feasible. If we were going to get a car we could use it as a base for some slack packing. Slack packing is where you hike a section of the trail with our all your gear making your pack lighter and you can cover more distance easier. I haven¢t done that and don¢t plan on it. If I was going to slack then I take out all the unnecessary items. Personally I feel if I carry the bare minimum to survive then its not really slacking. If we were going to get a car and slack we decided that we have to do big miles. After several calls and a final answer we decided to get the car. We still needed to do 10 miles to get to Kent where the company would pick us up. And after we got the car we still planned to do 11 more. After waiting out the storm we headed for Kent. FDR and Mule took a break at the first shelter where I passed them with out knowing they were waiting. I kept asking everyone I passed if they had seen them and they said no. I was curious but not worried. When I got to Kent they weren¢t there. I got some food and talked to the other hikers. After stopping at the outfitter for a new pair of well needed socks I met up with FDR and Mule. We tried to recruit more people to lower the cost as much as possible. Rain Maker and Moonbeam jumped right on it. Moonbeam is going to visit family in CT so she was only going to be with us for tonight so she thought she would chip in a 30 pack of Pabst. No one complained. The great thing about Kent is that the liquor store gives a free beer to thru-hikers. They came out with a random selection of beers. We split them up and sat in the park next to the store enjoying the company of about 9 hikers BSing. All he sudden mule goes is that FDR in that truck. We had just ordered a compact car. When he pulled up he said that they were out of compact and gave him that for the same price. It was perfect for hikers. 4 doors and a big truck bed for smelly packs. We offered to let more people in but no takers. Once they saw the truck they thought about it more but still no takers. So FDR, Mule, Rain Maker, Moon Beam, and I hopped in the truck. We decided to try and get 10 miles in today so we headed north to where the trail crossed a road and dropped off FDR and Mule. They headed south on the trail while Rain Maker, Moon Beam, and I headed back to where we had gotten off the trail before we got the truck. Once we got back to the trail head we parked the truck and started heading north. Moon Beam and Rain Maker took off while I locked up the car. I was making good time since my pack was lighter with out all my gear. When I ran into FDR and Mule we took a little break. I noticed that they were soaked. I had been sweating and was a little damp but they were drenched. They said right after we dropped them off the skies opened up and dumped on them. I didn¢t even get a drop of rain. Let¢s just say I was glad that I didn¢t go south. We parted ways since it was going to be getting dark soon. The trail followed the river bed and was flat. I knew that Rain Maker and Moon Beam were way ahead of me and would be waiting when I got the road. The sun was dropping fast but I only had about a mile to go. I got to a dirt road, the trail obviously followed the road but the question was which way was I suppose to go? I headed left and walked down the road a bit. I was hoping to see a blaze that would let me know I was on the right track. After a bit I did see a blaze on a tree. I followed down the road not knowing if I was on the right track but I figured since I had seen a blaze I was on the right track. I continued down the road periodically backtracking hoping I was on the right track. I got to the end of the road where I ran into a gate that led to a field. I knew this was not the right track. I was getting very frustrated. I back tracked to where I saw the blaze and whipped my eyes to make sure I wasn¢t seeing anything. Going back to where the trail dumped into the road it was about as close to being dark as it could get with out calling it dark. I was really happy that I had brought my sleeping bag and hammock because I was lost. Yes I said I am lost. And no that doesn¢t make me any less of a man of a man for admitting I was lost. I am blaming it on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. When they reroute a trail they should make sure to mark it and take away the old blazes. While standing there not knowing were to go I got out my cell phone. My phone had barely any power left and only one bar of service.   I called FDR to tell him I was lost and see if he could remember where the trail went. When he picked up it was a broken conversation. After a few curse words and me yelling I don¢t know where I am we finally got a few full sentences in. He said they were on their way to meet us and for me to stay put. Since they had 4 wheel drive and the insurance they would find me. After several dropped calls I went right from where the trail hit the road. The trail was just a few yards to the right. I went to the left for about an hour and a half looking for the trail and the trail went right. When I got back on the trail and headed north I tried to call FDR back to tell him I had found the trail and would be at the extract point soon. But of course I couldn¢t get a hold of him and he probably didn¢t want to hear I was going to meet them at the road that was paved. I¢m sure he wanted to test out the 4-wheel drive. When I got to the road it was dark. Moon Beam and Rain Maker had already gotten picked up and were out looking for me with FDR and Mule. I sat on the guard rail for a while waiting. While I was waiting they came looking for me 4-wheeling through every field in Connecticut. When they finally got my message and came and picked me up I was not a happy camper. (no pun intended) We now had to find a place to camp with the truck.   The plan was to head back to the road the trail followed and camp for the night. We joked about seeing other thru-hikers and explaining the whole car bit. We polished off one 30 pack while they kept ripping on me for getting ¢lost¢. One of the best parts about having the truck was the radio. We finally got to hear some different and new music. We all talked about the big miles we were going to do the next day. Let¢s just hope we get up and get some good mile in and don¢t go looking for a Waffle House to kill the hang over. Wait who am I kidding we are in the North, There are no Waffle Houses.