Date: 2008-08-09
From: Rangley

To: Andover
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I was up early this morning to take Sweet Sixteen to the trail. She wanted to get on it by 6:00, but we didn't quite make it. It just takes so long to get anywhere here. We also gave Traveler a ride. Talking with him I realized we had met before. One day on the Blue Ridge Parkway he had passed us slackpacking. I think it's great how we keep having these encounters.After dropping them at the trailhead I started back to Gull Pond. We packed all our gear and managed to shove it all into Sweet Sixteen's car. Our goal was to get our errands done and out of town before the Shriner's parade started down Main Street. First it was a greek omlette at the diner, dropping the boxes at the PO, the Alpine Shop for some moose pjs (for Owl), the library for some internet time and the ATM for cash. All done by 11:00.We were not sure what to do with ourselves. There was definitely more to do in Rangeley than Andover, but we wanted to leave before the parade so where to go? We ended up driving toward Andover but stopping at a little touristy community between the two. I have no idea now to spell it...OQ...something. We browsed some antique stores and souvenier shops.In the grocery store we ran into Dave, the ferryman from the Kennebec ferry. Wow, small world...or maybe it's just Maine. He said the Kennebec is getting really high and tough even to ferry across. He's heard of a lot of hikers finding a place to hole up and wait out the weather. He thought our choice to skip ahead and come back later sounded like a good plan.Next we grabbed some lunch at the diner. We're checking out all of Maine's small town diners. So far they've been very good. Then it was on to Andover. For the first time in days the sun was trying hard to shine. It kept peeking out, and then there would be a shower. But it was by far the sunniest day we've had in a long time. We even stopped going over the mountain at the scenic view point. There really was a view!Down in Andover we stopped into Granny's kitchen and made ourselves an ice cream sundae and drank some fresh squeezed lemonaid. Yeah I know it doesn't sound good together, but they were good.Owl and I took off at 3:00 PM to find the trail head on South Arm road. Sweet Sixteen didn't expect to arrive until 4:30 but we didn't want to risk her getting there before us and having to wait. She was right though, she came down the mountain right at 4:30. She said it was an extremely tough final decent. Another steep, rock filled, watersoaked trail.We headed back to Andover to pick up Tigger, Soaring and Roo who were hanging out outside the general store looking like locals. Then over to The Cabins. The Cabins are owned by Earl and Marge. They don't take in many guests anymore. They're working their way to retirement. We are only here because Sweet Sixteen was staying here and when she told them about our plans they said we were welcome also.Well, apparently nobody told Earl about Roo. They don't usually allow dogs. It seems a little strange since we were here the other day picking up the car and Marge saw Roo with us and didn't say anything. But anyway, it was a little awkward for a few minutes but he said she was welcome to stay. By that time Roo and their yellow lab Molly had become best of friends.We took a few minutes to situate our gear, but not long. Dinner was waiting. They had a large dining table in the Great Room. There is a young couple staying here with them who thru hiked in 03, Marge's sister and her husband and a young Canadian couple traveling to Newfoundland. Dinner conversation was lively and interesting. After a couple hours Marge's sister stood up to excuse herself and she said this was the first time she had had dinner at the hiker's table that everyone sat around and talked for so long. Someone attributed it to so many women. I think it was just so many interesting people. And maybe the fact that we aren't hiking tomorrow so we didn't have to run to bed early.So tomorrow we leave Maine...for now. A few impressions. I've hated the Maine trails. But I've heard more than one person talk about how beautiful the trail is here, but not this year with the weather. I'm sorry I missed it.I have to say tho that I am very impressed with the people and the small towns of Maine. I've never come across a more consistently friendly and welcoming people. Everyone we have encountered (except maybe for that mail lady in Stratton, but maybe she was just having a bad day) have been extremely nice. Which is pretty good considering how much rain they are living with.I'll leave with one last thought. It's not original, it was written in one of the shelter log books by a NOBO, not sure who. It said "Is it merely a coincidence that Maine is a contraction of Mud and Rain? I think not." I thought that was very clever.Rabbit, Owl and RooJoshua 1:9