Date: 2009-08-07
From: Guyot Campsite

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 4.2

We decided to linger some in the morning, and as we were about to leave TMax took off for a final privy stop. A minute later the rain came, so we decided the shelter looked like a nice place to wait out the wet. It was almost noon before we actualy returned to the AT, and this time the side trail to Zealand peak was only a few tenths of a mile off the beaten path. When we later reached the cliff that offered a vista (there was none at the wooded summit), we took the short side trail and lingered for some time at the lookout. While we were resting from our lunch, two young men came upon us. They were wearing white collared shirts with beige pants (all matching) out here and pretty far from any road. Soon another or two joined in and before you knew it eight of them were enjoying the view. When I heard one call another brother Zachary, I admit I became a little scared. They proved to e harmless, but I thought I had found myself in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode. They took off a little later at more than a canter and less than a run. I had to have TMax remind me that I was not in Maine quite yet. We stayed for a while longer enjoying the good weather while we had it. After the two of us made our way to the Zealand Falls hut and were allowed a work for stay. Once again Terri got to clean the slop sink while I gussied up the rest of the kitchen. It seemed that word of my prowess at cleaning grills made its way to the hutmistress there, but luckily, I did not have to perform that duty again. With plenty of food for both of us, we listened as Ironman extolled the virtued of thru-hikerdom (his job for the night) to the paying crowd at the hut, and we through in our half-cent a time or two also. Met a young lady there named Penny Whistle who had been averaging 25 miles a day from the Tennessee border until the Whites. That kind of put my long days in perspective, and TMax thought that maybe I was no so crazy. She decided to eschew sleeping on the table this night and set up camp in the corner. I was listening to the Yankees/Red Sox game, but fell asleep after the 0-0 tie went into the eleventh. At quarter to one I woke to use the privy, getting back in my bag I picked up the radio, and five minutes later the Yankees hit a two run homer to win the game 2-0 in fifteen innings! A perfect ending to a great day. ****If anyone skipped over the slight side trail to Zealand, there was no hope for the peak-bagging bug to grab them. The views from Zeacliff were grand, and Brother Zachary and his pals were a rather strange sight. It was great to catch up with Ironman at the hut. He kept the guests attention as he spun his yarn, which was what earned him grub and roof for the night. They had made lasagna, and with no way of reusing it or composting the leftovers, we were encouraged to eat and take what we wanted. Two baggies full would supply my meals for tomorrow. I listened to the Yankees game until I was ready to pass out. It was 0-0 in the 11th. Waking to use the restroom hours later, the game was still going, but close to the one a.m. cutoff time to start a new inning. In the bottom of the 15, the Yankees won 2-0 with a homer. Who said low scoring games couldn¢t be exciting?