Date: 2008-08-01
To: North Woodstock, NH
Miles today: 0.0

Matt's entry:Sorry it's been so long since I've entered anything. NO Kate is NOT walking alone Dad Lawton. Kate had gotten up really early in the AM the last town day and entered in some journals using the phone, and the battery was just about out of juice by the time I woke up. I like to sleep in when we are in town...So far, North Woodstock/Lincoln NH has been AWESOME. I was able to get my trekking pole fixed - it got bent this last week in the Presidential Range, and sooner or later it was going to break. Those things take quite a beating.Also, we need to publicly thank Chris (aka Senor), and Augusta for helping us out. We met them on Mt. Washington - they were hiking with Beetle for a while down south. They are letting us crash with them in their condo while we are in town. They also have been driving us around and showing us the great places to eat. I am starting to get a MAJOR hiker appetite. This AM for Bfast I had coffee (of course), and then a big flapjack, a big sausage, bacon, eggs, and hash browns. Then, I ate two more big flapjacks because I was still hungry. It's insane.I will try to get some pics up this AM if we have time - we are at an internet cafe that charges by the hour so I am trying to type quickly.Thanks to everyone who has been sending mail drops to us. We are enjoying the GS Cookies and really like reading everyone's letters and posts on the guest book page. Kate and I really miss our family and friends at home. I have been especially thinking about my siblings alot lately. Living in Michigan is really great but I sure do miss them. I wish I could see them and hang out, but here I am in New Hampshire.The walking seems to be getting easier for us. We are doing more miles per day, and during our trip across the presidential range, we were passing day hikers with little day packs walking from hut to hut (little hotel-like buildings that serve food and have bunks available for like $80 per night - we didn't really partake). So we are in pretty good shape. At one of the last huts, we came in for some soup (they have bottomless bowls for $3) and then went back out to hike about 3 more miles. One of the day hikers we passed had this look of awe and almost horror on his little round face and said "You guys are going back out?!" I just smiled and replied "yup - this was just a soup break."I also think I have a sick sense of humor. When we see the day hikers and we are near the top of a large climb, or have just crested and are going down and we pass someone, often they will ask if they are almost there. I secretly want to say "yeah, only about 4 or 5 more miles of this...it gets a little steeper up ahead but it's not bad..." and then watch their faces. But I never do - I am encouraging and say that they are almost there and doing well. But in my head there is a different conversation going...So that's where I am at today. I will try to catch up on some of those past journal entries and let you all know what has been going on. It's going pretty well so far and we are loving it! Big shout out and hugs to our friend Pollywog. I hope you are resting at home and feeling better! TTFN!