Date: 2008-07-09
From: Sabbath Day Pond Lean To

To: Piazza Rock Lean-To
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: light rain

Maine gave me a reprieve today. It seems that my petition to the state for a redress of grievances has been approved. I never thought I would reference the constitution in my journal.I slept pathetically horrible last night, the worst night's sleep in a while. I decided to get a head start this morning hoping I could cover a few miles before Cookie overtook me. I was meandering along at 6:00AM.The trail today was very easy. The easiest section in Maine thus far. There were some ups and downs, but nothing death defying. A section hiker informed me that I was less than a mile from the road at 9:15AM. This represented the first time in quite a while I was able to consistently hold 2MPH.The humidity level today was once again unbearable. I was quite pleased to finish most of my day before the heat of the day.It turns out Cookie was only about 200 yards behind me, so he showed up at the road shortly after I did. It took us about 15 minutes to hitch to the IGA in Rangeley, where we proceeded and repack our bags. Also resupply at the same time was Time Traveller and Dynamite. I should note I first met Time Traveller in Fontana Dam at the Hilton. We then walked into town with Dynamite. In town I looked at the outfitter and determined I would not be getting my pole fixed there. I also looked at new shoes seeing as my currently ones are dead.I spent a lot of time lounging around in an attempt to boost my morale. Rangeley is a very touristy town with a lot of stores catered towards them.When I checked my Trail Journal guest book at the library, I found a comment from someone not happy with my injection of politics into this journal. If you don't like what I'm writing, don't read it. Now that's change that works for everyone.This is also where I found out my phone no longer holds a charge. This thing is a hunk of junk, I'm thinking about throwing the phone into a river.I did end up buying a new pair of trail runners today, I went with Merell for the home stretch.At 4:30PM Cookie and I started to walk towards the grocery store. Along the way, Mary Lou offered us a ride. This is the same lady who gave us a ride into Andover. She once again had Auntie Mame as a passenger. At the grocery store, where Mary offered to take us along the way to the trail, I bought some items for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow morning. When I walked into the store it was clear outside, when I went back to the car it had completely exploded. This is a good thing because it means the humid weather is being forced out. Mary dropped us off at the trail head and we were walking north at 5:00PM.The trail was wet and muddy, and Cookie was packing out a half gallon jug of ice cream, so we were moving at a fairly good clip. We were completely soaked when we rolled into the shelter. Already there was Dynamite, who was nice and dry along with a couple of SOBO's. Dynamite has this theory that it always rains when a hiker buys a new pair of shoes. He explained that it down poured today because both Cookie and I bought a new pair of shoes(I bought the same pair as Cookie). I should note that this shelter junction is a little confusing, there's one junction leading to the actual Piazza Rock, while another one leads to the shelter, with another one leading to the Caretaker's yurt.I'm ready to sleep.Good night, and good luck.Kirby