Date: 2011-09-01
From: Frye Notch Lean-to

To: Chapman Inn
Miles today: 5.9

Day 164 - I was up at 6:45am and due to my lack of food choices, I had linguine for breakfast. I was on the trail at 7:45am and started up Bald Pate. This was almost a vertical climb, 1,500 feet gain in elevation in 1.8 miles. Once I reached the summit, there were some beautiful views. I arrived at Grafton Notch (there's that word again) at ME 26 at 12:40pm. I was pleased to have reached the road so early so I could get into town and get food and go by the outfitters and get my trekking pole fixed. I stood there an hour, ate lunch but still no rides into town. Finally, a lady and couple were leaving the parking area and I asked if they were going into Bethel and she said "no", they were going on a few miles down the road. I asked if I would stand a better chance of getting a ride there and she replied "yes" and I asked her if she would take me that far. Bethel is 17 miles away from the trail head so I was going to take whatever I could. We had a lot of discussion as we traveled and all three of them had hiked the day before on one of the side trails. The longer we talked, the longer Mary drove and she ended up taking me to the door steps of the Chapman Inn. I thanked them profusely for going so far out of their way. Indeed, I have I been blessed with some of my rides. The Chapman Inn is a house that was built in 1865 right on the green square in the Village of Bethel. I was in the shower at 2:30pm and it felt good to wash all the grime off. As we were driving in I saw an outfitter along the highway about two miles from the Inn, so after taking a shower, I started walking that direction. I stopped halfway and had lunch and walked the remaining distance. When I walked in I knew I was in the wrong place, this outfitter was really only a rafting/kayaking place. The gentleman told me where I needed to go, which was all the way back into town and another two miles from there. OK, I attempted to hitch a ride but no one stopped so I just walked. I really did not want to be walking in my sandals this length and really did not want to be walking at all on the hard asphalt road. After I got into town I walked out of town on the other highway and there was nothing. I was pretty sure I was on the right road but no one would stop. Finally, a guy stopped and picked me up and drove me 90 seconds to the outfitters. I was that close to having been there. My Leki trekking poles have been a life saver on many occasions, having saved me from falling completely on my fanny. They have three sections and I have bent two of the aluminum sections, plus broken off the tip. Jonathan was able to fix the one pole and since Leki has a lifetime guarantee, it did not cost me anything. I also had to replace my tent bag since I attach it to the outside of my pack it had torn in multiple places when I have fallen on the granite rock. I also had to buy a butane fuel canister. Prior to me leaving a couple and another man came into the outfitters and overheard me talking to Jonathan and asked me where I was from. I replied and one of the men, Mark, had lived in Johnson City. He was with the Social Security Administration and was very familiar with Eastman. He had attempted to do a thru hike several years ago but had to get off at the Hudson River and have knee surgery. He and Kelly, the other gentleman, were section hiking from Grafton Notch to Stratton. To top it all off, they were staying at the Chapman Inn, so I was able to bum a ride back with them, and stop by the grocery store. Again, an answer to the incidental prayers that continue to be answered. Diane, Kelly¢s wife, was going to visit friends while Mark and Kelly hiked. I ended up going to dinner with them at S.S. Milton and had Chicken Oscar, with fresh lobster on top instead of crab meat. The real blessing of meeting up with them is that they offered to give me a ride back to Grafton Notch the next morning. This prevented me from having to arrange and pay for a shuttle. I enjoyed their company and appreciated the stories and advice that Mark and Kelly were able to give me, as they had hiked the section I was on last year. Mark resides in Nashville and Diane and Kelly in Maryland. This was a short mileage day but one I had to do in order to resupply and get additional food. I hiked 5.9 miles today, bringing my total to 1,387.7 with 793.3 miles remaining.