Date: 2018-07-27
From: Lonesome lake shelter

To: I-93 Lincoln
Miles today: 3.4

I woke up at 5 but stayed on the floor trying to stretch out a bit before attempting to get up. All night long my back hurt making rolling over a teeth grinding, wincing event. I didn't sleep well at all. We needed to be packed up by 6:15 so the croo could set up for breakfast. We undecorated our still soggy clothes from the room and put the tables and benches back. Then we depatrted the space so the croo could do their thing. After putting my wet stuff on the rail outside to try to finish drying it I grabbed a coffee and went down by the lake and stood on the dock. Looking out over the lake was peaceful. It was smooth and the reflection of the clouds and mountains was perfect. I couldn't help but stare at it and take lots of pictures. The hut guests were milling about with coffee in hand and children were bouncing around seemingly excited at the prospect of breakfast. The menu board said chocolate chip pancakes. I took the opportunity to use the restroom to freshen up, brush my teeth, etc. while the guests were eating. After breakfast the croo cleaned the dishes while we swept and then we had breakfast together. Cold oatmeal and eggs. But it went down okay and the coffee was hot. A little while later it was chore time for us. The "work" part of the stay. And until almost 9:30 we wiped down bunks and window sills, folded blankets and swept the 10 bunk rooms in 2 buildings. I was packed and ready to go. At 9:38 Rainbow and I left the dock. River was behind us. Eventuallly she caught up, but not before hiking .4 mile in the wrong direction! We forded 3 times in a short distance, having to walk upstream at Cascade Brook in order to forde safely. Very few hikers on this section of the trail today. We were hiking out to I-93 where Brian and my niece Laura would meet us for a trip to Lincoln for lunch and resupply. Then we would hike up to liberty spring campsite. The 3.4 miles would bring us to the highway and then we'd have a 1 mile walk on another trail to access a parking lot. But Brian parked at Lafayette campground on the west side of the highway and we wouldn't pass that on the AT. So when we popped out and I saw 93 and the exit sign for the flume parking was right next to us I knew he wasn't far away and thus we decided to break the rules and walk along the highway shoulder a short distance to the ramp. He picked us up there, sparing us an extra mile. And he has ice cold drinks for us too. So cold they had slush in them! We had an excellent lunch at Gordie's and just as we were ready to leave the sky grew dark and let go a furious downpour complete with thunder and lightning. River began to break down. We're all at a breaking point with the rain. We agreed we'd stay in town tonight instead of hiking up the 2.6 to liberty spring campsite. We went to the outfitters, had ice cream, brought Rainbow to Chet's hostel and River and I got rooms at Mt Liberty motel where we had showers and laundry. Brian brought our resupply and my Osprey pack, which I exchanged for the zpack hoping it will help my back. He also brought up sizzers and cut my bangs for me so I can see now. After a full day he brought Laura back to her car at Lafayette campground and came back for an extra visit with me which was very sweet. When he arrived my room was full. River, WE and her wife LeAnn were visiting me. WE had decided to get off trail and see a doctor about her knees. She's in a lot of pain and the Kinsmans were the frosting on that cake. I do hope she's able to resume her hike. It was great to see LeAnn whom I haven't seen since she rescued me when I needed new shoes in PA. I crawled into bed after saying goodnight to Brian and I was asleep before he got home. Tomorrow morning Mike, the motel owner will bring us back to the trail at 6:15.