Date: 2016-08-26
From: Full Goose Shelter

To: The Barn Gorham NH
Miles today: 1.9
Weather: clear sky

My sleeping pad was deflating faster than before. Three times during the night, I blew up my pad. It did not rain during the night.I did my morning ritual and ate breakfast. I checked my food. I had food for one breakfast and one dinner. I did not have enough food bars for lunch! By way of explanation, I am hypoglycemic. I had lectured Red Squirrel just the day before that if I do not eat when I am hungry, I get slower and slower. I also get very grouchy and can only think about what I need to do to eat. As the sugar level drops, higher brain functions such as math, spelling, thinking of alternatives and planning become impossible for me to do. I fainted once from lack of calories. It is a very bad road for me to be hungry.Panic set in and the mantra "I need to get to Gorham." started. Gorham was the next town.I had been eating more than my allotted 5 bars, because of extra difficulty. Spending the night at Speck Pond Shelter was not originally planned. We had taken two days to do what I had originally planned for one day. In hindsight, the itinerary was too ambitious. Red Squirrel said she had extra food. The GI surgeon gave me two food bars and his partner gave me one.Now I had enough food for lunch. The mantra "I need to get to Gorham." continued. The Colby kids were hiking off the trail today. Red Squirrel and I went over to the Colby kids. I explained my food situation and asked if we could hike out with them. I asked if they could drive us to Gorham, where we had reservations at The Barn and The Libby House. They said yes to both. The panic eased. They were going to take the Wright trail to their rented Suburbans. Red Squirrel and I started ahead of the Colby kids since we were moving slower than them. Shortly after climbing above treeline, we were in wispy fog. We came to a spot where I was not sure if the trail went straight or left. Straight was mud with many footprints but the footprints seemed to stop in 100 feet. Left was rock. A little further, there was a rock pile (cairn). We waited for the Colby kids. The Colby kids appeared in short time. They scouted it out and chose the left with the cairn. The terrain was easier than the notch but it was not easy. There were still many places to climb up and down, rocks and roots. Every now and then, the leader would wait for everyone to regroup. Red Squirrel with her hurt knees brought up the rear. There was no view on Goose Eye Mountain due to the fog. The GI surgeon and his buddy were waiting at the Wright Trail turn off to the left. Red Squirrel and the last Colby kid almost missed the turn, but the GI surgeon and his buddy directed them. More climbing and fog. The terrain became easier. We had a break near a stream. Later when we were crossing another stream, as I stepped on roots, down onto a rock in the stream, I slipped and fell full force on my backpack. Fortunately, I was not injured at all. The trail became similar to an old logging road. It reminded Red Squirrel and I of trails back home. At last we came out to where the rented Suburbans were parked. We ate fruit from the vehicles. Then we went to a popular swimming hole on Sunday River. See pictures of people jumping of rock into the pool below. Red Squirrel and I soaked in the water above the rock ledge. It was a lovely spot. One of the Suburbans was loaded with all Colby gear, to be returned by 4 pm. The other Suburban drove us 20 miles out of their way to The Barn Hikers Hostel and Libby House B&B. We stepped into The Barn. There were many signs. Sign #1 - Stop - All Guest push & Hold door bell for 2 Sec Barn Guest only in Barn! To: Sign In Please Ring Door Bell. Or Call: 603-466-2271 or 603-273-6129 Thank you: PaulSign #2 - The Barn Rules 1. $22.00 per day per Person with Hot showers, shampoo, soap, towel 2. Check out at 11:00 AM - no exceptions 3. Pay when you check in - no exceptions 4. Drinking permitted, drunkeness absolutely prohibited 5. ? Day $5.00 NO sleeping bags 6. Quiet Time 9:00 PM 7. No Smoking in Barn Smoking Outside 8. Use of lower backyard only 9. no ? 10. Use of Stove please keep closedSign #3 - Barn Shuttles No Exceptions One shuttle to Rattle River 7:30 AM One Shuttle to Pinkham Notch 2 nite stay free 1 nite stay $10 7:30 AM One Shuttle to Wal-Mart $2.00 per person - Pay in Advance 5:30 pm onlySign #4 - To All Hikers If you wish to hit the trail before or after 7:30 AM Here is a list of shuttle services you can call No Exceptions - Thanks PaulSign #5 - Check out Time - 11:00 AM All Barn Guest must be out of Barn or next day charge will apply: Paul "No Exceptions"Sign #6 - Notice This is not a party hostel Quite time is 9:00 PM All Violators will be ask to leave the Barn. "No Refunds"Sign #7 - If no one is here when you arrive, bunk space is up in the loft. Toilet & shower, inside on right. Be back soon ... PaulWe were greeted by Paul. Paul was a middle aged mild mannered man. I told Paul my name. He said "Oh, I know that name." Red Squirrel told Paul she wanted to stay at the B&B. Paul went inside to get Bobbie. Bobbie is Paul's cousin who takes care of the B&B. I figured Paul knew my name because our reservation was for last night and tonight. Paul returned and Red Squirrel followed Paul into the house and made arrangements to stay at the B&B. Paul checked in a disheveled man. A man in a Hardee's uniform was paying for two nights for the disheveled man. Paul pointed to the "This is not a party hostel" sign and told him he would be kicked out if noisy after quiet time. The disheveled man understood and was very grateful the Hardees man was paying. I checked into the Barn with Paul. Paul said my husband had called last night and this morning. He suggested I call my husband. I called my husband. I settled into the bunk room upstairs in the Barn. Then I went to visit Red Squirrel in her room. We figured out we were going to stay in Gorham three days and then go to Pinkham Notch/Joe Dodge Lodge. At my request, Red Squirrel called AMC reservations. We were given a credit for cancelling Carter Notch Hut. While we were chatting, Bobbie knocked and asked if we wanted to go on the Wal-Mart shuttle. We were hungry and staying for three nights. We would go to Wal-Mart the next day. We went to dinner at Mr Pizza. I had steak and potato with salad. Red Squirrel showed me her arms. They had multiple bruises from hanging on to the spruce trees in the Notch and other sketchy rock maneuvers. She said her shins were cut up from the spruce trees poking her. She said I could not see her internal injuries of her shoulder from being pulled up the boulder or her knees. I texted my AT friend Steve. In May, when I was hiking with Again and Tag-A-Long, I met Eric and Steve at the Bears Den Hostel in north Virginia. We met again at Tea Horse Hostel in Harpers Ferry. Our last night on the trail, we were together at Ensign Cowall Shelter, just before the Pennsylvania - Maryland border. I had been following them on Facebook ever since. Eric was off the trail for his sister's funeral. I was hoping to meet up with Steve as he came north and I came south. Steve responded to my text that he was in Gorham! Neither of us had planned to be in Gorham today, yet here we were. I met up with him after dinner. It was GREAT to see him. He was thinner than when I saw him last. We talked for hours.