Date: 2004-07-22
From: Tenting at Piazza Rock Lean-to, Maine

To: Maine Rt 4, to Mailar's Hostel, Winslow, Maine
Miles today: 1.8

1.8 miles today...that's right!!Maine Rt 4, to Mailar's HostelWinslow, MaineI didn't think I would sleep that well last night on the hard tent platform, but I did and I didn't want to get up this morning. I woke up at 5am qnd went back to sleep, woke up about 6am and went back to sleep, woke up at 7am and thought about getting up, but changed my mind. I finally got up at 8am and stuck my alchohol stove outside and started my coffee. I wasn't real hungry, {I knew today was a town day and I wanted to save room for real food} so I only had one breakfast bar. I have no idea how I managed to not get out of my tent until after 9am. It was 9:30 before I was packed and ready to go and I went up to the shelter to say goodbye to whoever was there, but it was empty...everyone was gone. I think I was in slow motion because I knew Mailar wasn't picking me up until noon and I only had 1.8 miles to walk. I got to the trailhead at 10:10am and walked over to the parking area just to make sure Mailar wasn't there and there he was!! I almost didn't recognize him because he was wearing cotton. It always seems strange to see a hiker in street clothes. I shook his hand while I scoped out the back of his truck....a cooler!!! Trail magic!!! He had iced cokes, a variety of candy bars and the biggest sandwich I've ever seen. It was on homemade bread and the loaf of bread had to measure 12" square. I estimated that sandwich weighed 4 pounds. It was still early, so I waited on the sandwich, but I had 2 cokes and a chocolate bar. We were just getting ready to leave when a nobo came out from the trail. Mailar said that he looked familiar and I ask him what his name was. He said First Light. He and Mailer had hiked around each other earlier in the year. First Light looked at me and said; Are you Stumpknocker?? I said yes, but I didn't remember meeting him. He said he recognized me off my photo on trail journals. Wow, I wish I had a memory like that!!We took him into Rangley and dropped him off by Sarge's Pub and then went back to head for Mailar's home. Two of my friends, Cobweb and Lunchbox, were sitting out by the road and Mailar pulled over. I saw them look at Mailar wondering what he wanted and then they spotted me and they got big grins on their faces because they knew I had a friend picking me up. They came over to the truck and Mailar offered them a coke and a ride into town. We went back to Rangley and dropped them off and as we were turning around, I saw Caveman and told him where Cobweb and Lunchbox were. We got back to the trailhead, but no one else had come out, so we headed back to Mailar's home about an hour and a half away. I have as much fun doing trail magic as I do hiking and it wasn't even my magic...it was Mailar's. About 30 minutes went by and I told Mailar I was hungry. He found a roadside pulloff and I got out that 4 pound sandwich and I ate the whole thing. I got a picture of it beside a can of coke and when I get a chance, I'll post it on my photo section. It dwarfed that can of coke. Mailar seemed pleased that I ate the whole thing, even though I started to slow down towards the end of it. We drove the rest of the way back to his house and I think he was trying to hint that I could take a shower as soon as I wanted. I didn't act quick enough I guess because he said again...you should probably take a shower before long. I thought to myself; I guess I'll go take a shower, but I've only been on the trail 3 days since my last shower and I ate lunch in a stream just yesterday. We talked somemore AFTER I took a shower and then I checked my email. He took me to Wal-Mart and I picked up a card reader...hoping that will let me post my pictures from the digital camera and I bought popcorn and more smiley face stickers. I still have plenty of smiley faces for when I sign a shelter registers, but these were really good smiley faces that I couldn't pass up. We got back to his house and Mrs Mailar was home from work. It was good seeing her again. The last time I saw her was when she was at the hospital in Greenville, Tn. to take Mailar home. Liteshoe and I stopped in to see how Mailar was doing after he had to be taken out of the trail on a stretcher. He looked as bad as the first time I met him...just kidding. We decided where to go to eat dinner and Mailar drove us over to Ken's in Skowhegan. They ordered the regular "not hiking now" type of dinner, but I ordered The Monster Seafood Feast. The first line in the description of the dinner sold me. It said; For those with a very large appetite. Yep, I didn't even have to check out anything else on the menu...I found my dinner!! I couldn't believe my eyes when it came out. It was huge!!! It was delicious!!! I needed a doggy bag...I was embarrased...I could eat only about 2/3rds of it. I put about 1 1/2 lbs of seafood in my doggy box. I held my head in shame. I was really glad none of my sobo friends were there to witness that. I did find room for the Ben and Jerrys Ice Cream we bought on the way home. That made me feel a little better. We were sitting in the living room and our old buddy Chief called. He must have known we were talking about him and he wanted to add to the conversation. We all talked for a while until Chief had taken all the abuse he could stand. I always thought Chief and I were good friends until I found out what he plans on feeding me when I get down to his house...fried chicken necks and feet. Even that sounds better than Ramen or Lipton's though.After everone went to bed, I tried installing that card reader, but didn't have any luck. Hopefully I'll find someone that knows what they're doing to help me with that. I've said it before and I'll say it again...trail friends are the best!!!Thanks Mrs. Mailar and Mailar, you both are great friends!!Another great day on the A.T.