Date: 2006-07-11
From: Abol Bridge Campground, Me

To: Birches Lean-to, Me
Miles today: 9.9

It was much noisier last night than I'm used to. A whipporwill started, then some kind of croaking tree frog. I ended up awake more often than usual.I woke up at 5am when I heard Frogcaller out moving around. I asked her how she felt and she said that she felt great this morning.It looks like our original plan is back on...at least for today.We are walking from Abol Bridge to Katahdin Stream Campsite in Baxter State Park which will set us up for the big climb up Katahdin on the 12th.Mrs Gorp decided to walk with Frogcaller again. They left at 6am and I started my coffee to brewing about that time.I had some muffins and a couple donuts along with one banana that I bought in town last night. I also tried some Expresso coffee since the store didn't have any Starbucks...it wasn't too bad.I packed up a wet tent that was full of gravel and dirt. I never have that problem with my stealth sites, but these established tentsites are terrible.I was packed up, then walked up to the campstore and waited a few minutes for them to open.I took a walk out onto Abol Bridge while I was waiting, but Katahdin was hidden by the fog and I could just barely make it out.I bought Mrs Gorp the lunch she asked for and got a new bumper sticker for the back of my truck.Linda said that since I'm such a good customer that I could have the sticker for free. :-)))I started walking at 7:25am.John Galt said he decided to climb Katahdin today and that he might head for home tonight.I left Zulu by the campstore and headed into the bug infested woods.I couldn't believe how bad the mosquitos were for the first few miles, but then they eased up and it was pretty nice walking.I heard something large in the woods, but when I tried to see what it was, I couldn't find it.It made a crashing noise more like a bear does than a moose.I caught up to Frogcaller and Mrs Gorp about 4 miles into the walk. They were just shimmying their way across a stream on a fallen tree.When I walked across the stream on that tree, Mrs Gorp had her camera ready for an action shot just in case I fell in.She actually looked dissappointed when I made it safely across. :-)))A short while later, we saw a doe, then a sobo by the name of Bebo Fox came walking by.Mrs Gorp and I stopped to take a look at Big Niagara Falls, then as we were catching up to Frogcaller, a sobo by the name of Jim came by.A short time later, we saw Allison who's doing the 100 Mile Wilderness with her friend, North Wind who's doing a sobo thru hike.I took a short side trail to the Toll Dam. I had never taken a look at that before.It was an old wooden dam that's been washed away some time ago.We only had about 2 1/2 miles left when a sobo that looked familiar came walking by. Turned out to be the Son Of Billy Goat.We talked for about 20 minutes before I walked on.The three of us walked by a privy near the main road in Baxter State Park and Mrs Gorp got all excited and stopped.I guess she has a thing about privies...they seem to make her happy. :-)))When we were walking the half mile down the gravel road to Katahdin Stream Campground, it started raining.I put on my pack cover, but it didn't rain too hard.We got to the campground and found Zulu waiting at lean-to #4.We took a few minutes talking about the day and how Zulu went in the muck up to his crotch when one of the fallen trees we had to walk on to cross some water rolled on him.It rolled on us, but we all made it safely. :-)))Mrs Gorp and I went up to the ranger's station to check in.They said there were no vacancies even though the campground was mostly empty.We ended up having to walk another 1/4 mile and set up our tents at The Birches Lean-to.I was hoping Lew would be at Lean-to #4 when we got back, but he wasn't.We were sitting there talking when he pulled into the campground.I knew he was supposed to bring dinner for tonight, but I thought it was going to be something he made.Instead, he brought out a bucket of Flatlander's broasted chicken!!!What a treat that was!!! :-)))He also had sodas, potato salad and rolls and butter.I ate until I couldn't eat any more.He also brought a large chocolate cream pie for desert. :-)))That really made my day...well, along with the fact that Frogcaller seems to be feeling better. It looks like we have a chance of climbing Katahdin tomorrow.John Galt came driving up. I had figured he headed for home already, but he said he had a great day climbing Katahdin on a trail he hadn't done before.He also said he was staying tonight and climbing Katahdin again tomorrow. We all sat around talking and getting ready for tomorrow, then Mrs Gorp and I had to walk back to The Birches for the night.Just as I got into my tent, it started raining again.If Frogcaller feels well enough to make it up Katahdin tomorrow, she will complete her 5 year section hike of the entire AT!!!Here's to ya, Frogcaller. :-)))