Date: 2014-08-24
From: Baldpate Shelter

To: East B Hill Road
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a quiet night last night except for the mouse that came to visit. He searched through my pack but I had taken everything out and hung it up so there was nothing for him that night.I climbed west and East Peaks of Baldpate mountain and had fantastic views all around. I had to keep stopping to take pictures as different views would emerge the higher and higher I went. Maybe it was a good thing I didn't have great weather in the Whites as I would still be there snapping shots! I made my way down to Frye Notch where I met a nice couple who were out section hiking and whose son had completed the trail this year. They knew many of the hikers that I had hiked with earlier and it was great to hear that so many of them had made it through. The trail rumor is that this year 3500 people began at Springer compared to 2700 from the year before. I am anxious to see what number I end up as, not so much as its a race just curious. On the way down I ran into Baggies and Cheeseburger who I had last seen somewhere in Virginia. They had flip flopped and were headed south now. I was able to share some trail magic by giving them the snickers bars that David had given me the day before. they were quite appreciative. I had called Gerry on the shoulder of Baldpate and now called him again to let him know I had just left Dunn's Falls and Notch and we set 12 as a meeting time at the trail head. I'm really looking forward to meeting him and is wife Carol. My Uncle Bob and my Mom say they are a great couple and I want to find out more about them. The cool twists and turns of the trail lead us to meet some wonderful people. Gerry picked me up right on time and brought me back to his place which is a lovely log home in the woods along a stream. He and Carol built the place themselves and its really nice. I am staying in an apartment over the garage which is really nice also. It has everything I need and I even got to do my wash. Carol put on a tasty turkey dinner spread with all of the fixings. I tried to be polite and not eat too fast but needless to say I did have 2 helpings and look forward to going back later this evening for brownies and ice cream. Since my clothes weren't done when dinner was served, Gerry lent me one of his bathrobes. This robe was flannel and looked as if it came directly from L.L. Bean. It was the coolest thing and definitely not your regular attire for dinner. The meal was great and the conversation even better as we talked about our families. Its funny how you can no people for only a short period of time and have a great connection right from the get go. Again I wish I had more time to spend with people like Gerry and Carol. An interesting thing popped up during our conversation when they mentioned that their daughter worked in Boston as a nurse and had a friend Spark Plug who hike the trail. It nearly blew me out of my chair as I had last seen Spark Plug at the Long Trail Inn in Vermont where she was hiking with a friend and had given me her number so if anything happened and I needed help I could call her. It is really a small, small world. After dinner I spent more time trying to figure out what to do from resupplying and mail drops for the next couple of weeks. Resources are getting farther and fewer between so I have to plan ahead. But no matter what I know that God will guide me and things will work out as they should. I got a surprise call from my son Kris who is over in the U.K. He is starting work this week teaching high school math there. He has done some venturing out with the family he is staying with and is headed for London this week for an orientation. I am so excited to know I can still call him when I want. Oh the miracles of modern technology. I wish him the best and know he will do well. I am so proud of him taking on such an adventure as this. The rest of the evening was spent updating this journal which will be my last for at least a few days. I hope to do some more when I get to Rangley on Wednesday. I'm also going to have that brownie and ice cream I passed up earlier.