Date: 2003-09-16
From: US 93, Franconia Notch

To: Liberty Springs Campsite
Miles today: 2.6
Weather: moderate rain

I woke up just a couple of times during the night...it was actually the best night's sleep I'd had in awhile...and all I could hear was the rain pouring down. Sound familiar? I know it did to me...when morning came and it was still raining, Big Bird and I had decided on a zero day. As I've said before, it's one thing to be out on the Trail and dealing with the rain, but to be in town, completely dry, and THEN go out in the rain...that's a whole different ball game. Anyway, I went across the street to a cafe that featured coffee, breakfast and free internet access (yay!). I got some coffee and went online to check my e-mail and trailjournals.com. I read Twofiddy's account of his Katahdin summit and started to cry. I am feeling alternately depressed, sure that I won't make it, and determined, sure that I will. I read Dutch's latest...he's so close, and I'm so proud of him! It's funny that he's hiking with Oddessy...I met her at REI the week before I left for Georgia. ! I wonder if she remembers the encounter. I wandered back to the lodge, where Big Bird told me he'd heard that the weather was supposed to clear up by the afternoon. We could still do a short hike, get back out on the Trail and be near the top of the ridge to start tomorrow's hike. I went to get a few supplies and make a couple of phone calls. I checked with my Seester to see if she'd heard from Randy...still nothing, and I still don't know where he and Gerri are. I called my other sister to wish her a happy birthday (she's very old now). They are both concerned about the hurricane and how it will affect me. I'm trying not to think about it. Big Bird also resupplied, then we both were wandering, separately around town. I went to the art gallery...some nice stuff there, but nothing I could afford or carry. I went into Fadden's general store and felt tears come to my eyes (yup, I'm weepy today). It smelled exactly like the store that my grandparents used to own. An!yone who knows me well, knows how I felt about that store, and the loss of it. I could have stayed there all day, just taking in the sights (old bottles, scales, etc) and smell, but I had to get going. I had lunch at the Station, then went back to the lodge to pack up. We got a shuttle back to the Trail, and headed out. The first half mile was nice and easy...I was lulled into a false sense of security. The next 2 miles took forever! It wasn't the rock scrambling of yesterday, but more like the ascent of Moosilauke. The higher we got, the chillier it was...I could see my breath near the end. We finally arrived at the campsite and met with the caretaker, Kate, who is awesome. I set my tent up on a platform, and went to see how Big Bird was faring. He had decided to sleep out on a platform instead of setting up his hammock. I sure hope it's not too cold! I went to the site of the old shelter to have dinner, and found Circus, Bucky and Chief talking with Kate. I thought they were days ahead of me, but they'd gotten sucked into town, !too. They were heading on to stealth camp for the night. Kate came to have dinner with me...we had a great conversation. She's not only a caretaker here, but also in VT during the winter...very cool. She has suggested that I consider being a DJ, as she thinks I have a great voice. Hmmmm...something to think about. I cleaned up my dishes and hit the tent. It is sooooo cold! I will be sleeping with my fleece accessories on tonight! I'm hitting the hay early, getting up early to pick up trash around the site (work for stay, yay!), then hitting the Trail. The weather is supposed to hold for a couple of days, anyway, so I hope for a good hike tomorrow!