Date: 2013-09-01
From: State Route 17, ME

To: State Route 4, ME
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: broken clouds

Got our last meal in Andover. We ate at the diner again. They grilled homemade raspberry muffins. Yum! David drove us back to State Road 17 for a NOBO hike. It was amazingly easy and peaceful. We went around several gorgeous lakes with barely a sign of human life. We witnessed a plane landing on one lake and later watched it take off. There was a small beach on Sabbath Day Lake. We got so excited and started laughing when Cub found a big blue tube float. She floated around in it eating her lunch and enjoying the water. She would paddle back in and ask for her next item to eat. She was so relaxed and happy. A Floridian moment in Maine. We were around our friends so that was fun. BooBoo is always teasing us so the girls adore him. It's so nice to have so many people watching out for us. Best moment of the day was when we finally ran into JD and Trip, friends from the South. JD broke his foot so he and Trip went home and healed. The started back at Katahdin and headed South. We were overjoyed to see them. It took them 18 days to get to us and they are strong hikers. We have to get to Katahdin in 16 days. It will be a tough push but we are determined to do it. We hope to reunite with JD and Trip in the South. They said Badonkadonk and I looked skinny and Cub looked taller. I have put a bit more weight on. I'm eating a pint of ice cream a day if I can get it plus I make sure I get 1000 calories at each meal and add lots of snacks. We met a multigenerational family out for a hike. They were wearing matching butterfly shirts since they are working on a butterfly project. They were very interested in our hike so we had a great conversation. They had 3 girls with them. We also ran into Buddy Backpacker's mom Sherpa going up the trail to meet them. We didn't know where they were so we did our monkey calls all day, especially if we heard a kid. When Buddy is around he excitedly calls back. We were worried about them. "D" got stung in the hand by a bee yesterday. Buddy was stung on the leg the day before. Since the granddad is allergic to stings they weren't sure how they'd react. D's hand was swelling but he was breathing okay. Things can get serious really fast up here. Luckily we are all hiking so close together we can help each other out. Sherpa offered to slack pack us tomorrow. The people in town say there are no good roads for 32 miles. We have to wait for the Rangeley Post Office to open. We did not realize tomorrow was a holiday. This squeezes our time even more. We plan to hike the next 16 days with no stops other than food. We should smell really ripe by the time my hubbie and motherinlaw get to us!!!At the bottom, near the road we got incredible trail magic. There was candy, fruit, nut, Trader Joe's wasabi peas and microbrew beer. Yeah! Except the girls forgot their pocket knives so i couldn't get the lid off. It was a cruel predicament. I was desperate. I tried several trees and rocks until I finally got it opened. Ahhhh! Great way to relax at the end of a 13 mile hike. We hitched a ride in with a kind couple in a two door pickup truck. I rode with their home canned jars on my lap. It was a long ride into town. Thank goodness they were kind enough to give us a ride. Blueberry splurged and got us the best hotel room ever. This place, The Rangeley Inn, is adorable. Blue with a huge white wrap around porch with rockers. It was built in the 1880's and is very historical. It was just bought by this young man. He gave us a good rate, held our packs all day (they were delivered here by David) and he is very positive about hikers. Cub does not like the lobby, running quickly through it. It has a stuffed bear and lots of animal heads. This is her least favorite decor. The town has more restaurants than Andover, including Thai Blossom at which we contentedly ate. Last sheets and showers and long sleeps for 16 days! Enjoying every second of the Inn.