Date: 2006-08-07
From: The Barn, Gorham

To: The Barn, Gorham
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I'm taking a zero day today so that I can get lots of things done. Groceries, library, post office, gear repair and replacement, etc. Scoot, Misfortune, and Steech and I call for a shuttle to take us to Shaw's, the grocery store. I think I bought way too much, but when I pack it up, if is too much, I'll just bounce some forward. I bought a lot because I think one of the reasons I haven't been feeling well hiking is due to not enough fuel in the tank. But, it may be too much, because I hear you can eat at the huts for pretty cheap. Its a crap shoot and I'm a poor gambler.I make a list of everything I need to do today and head out to the outfitter. I get just about everything, but no shoes. I was hoping to trade in my boots for some lighter weight trail runners, but they either didn't fit or didn't have my size. I'll have to wait to Hanover I guess.Well, it was supposed to rain today ad I thought good as I am taking a zero day, but its hot and sunny, so I guess the rain is going to wait until I get on the trail. Go figure!So an exciting thing happened in Gorham today. A semi tractor trailor ran off the road in Jefferson, a nearby town, and struck a transformer knocking out all payphone, long distance, internet, cell phone, atm, and more services. Definitely, put a kink in the plans of many people including me. I had hoped to call my teaching buddies today (now that I have a phone card that will be accepted by the phones up here in New England) and see how their first day back at work went. I'll have to wait another day!So most of the nobos cleared out of the Barn pretty early, but one of them, Steech, decided to stay as his shoulder was bothering him. We spent some time hanging out and chatting and I could tell his shoulder was not feeling any better. Later, I am working on my journals and going through my mail drops, and Steech comes upstairs and lays down on a bed and is groaning in pain. This time he says his stomach feels like it is on fire. I ask him if he wants to go to a doctor and he tells me yes. There is no phone at the Barn and the payphones are not working, but I have been watching this elderly gentleman entertaining a friend in his front yard across the street. I walk over and introduce myself and ask them if there is an urgent care facility in town. They inform me that the only thing is the hospital in Berlin, 7 miles down the road. I ask them if I can use their phone to call Golden Waldo the shuttle driver and they agree (local calls can still be made). Waldo picks us up and off we go. Now the rain comes. Severe thunderstorms.Steech gets taken back to the ER and Waldo and I sit in the waiting room and watch Antique Roadshow and talk. About an hour later, the doctor comes out and tells us that its going to be a while before they know what's up with Steech, so if we want to leave we can. Steech is worried about us waiting. But, we tell the doc that we will stay as we are his ride back to Gorham. Another hour later, the doctor comes out and tells us that Steech won't be coming home tonight, that he has to have surgery. It seems that he has a hole in his stomach that is leaking air forcing hs diaphragm to raise into his shoulder causing the discomfort. We are amazed that it so serious and grateful that we got him seen as quickly as we did. Waldo drives me back to the Barn. I have missed out ongetting things done, so I will probably be around Gorham a little longer than planned tomorrow, but it was worth it to help a friend in need. I just hope he makes it through surgery without any complications.