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Sunday, June 4, 2006
It was great to have their support & friendship and visit with my friend Robin. Left overwhelmed and headed right up and spent the night in Araura ME.
Monday, June 5, 2006
After a great night sleep at Sleepy Time Motel, they recommended Mario’s for breakfast, where we met Liz Chandler who was a school teacher for 28 yrs. Who loved her job but retired losing a % of her pension because she couldn’t give 100% after losing 4 close relatives within a year. Later she went back to substitute teaching. That is a woman with ethics. Got on the trail after giving hats to Everett and Jim, walked 8 mi. and met 3 other hikers, neglected to get their photos, gave them garlic for the mosquitoes.
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Thought about absolute power and how it corrupts, and I realize I have absolute power and can do anything I want, how I have abused it to hurt others, not used it and done nothing, given away and been a victim. Saw a beaver slap his tail. Met Bill, Dave, & Dan Green with Nemo (Josh) trail name heading south. Met up with the three guys I met yesterday and had given garlic toTad, Ben, Coby. He said if it didn’t work he was going to poke holes in my tent. Lots of roots on the trail, garlic has worked well, as I did not take an afternoon piece and the black flies are harsh.
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Met Ed & Roger (have their photos) Section hikers. Did 17 miles over roots and up & down jagged slate. Slept out of a shelter and found flaws in my tent. It rained heavy, I woke up soaked at 4am.
Thursday, June 8, 2006
Walked 16 miles in the rain, saw several water falls. Fell 2 times crossing rivers, what wasn’t wet got wet. Walked on and off with Ben & Clyde. Ended up in leeman brook lean to sharing a meal with them, Slept in a wet sleeping bag.
Friday, June 9, 2006
Non of my stuff dried during the night, so I had some protein powder, put on wet gear and headed to Monsan. Arriving there I got a bed in a bunk house. Got something to eat at LuLu’s found out her husband had gotten back from Iraq and said he hasn’t been the same since. She said they need a program for wives too. Also met Racheal who has the laundry matt and is opening a pub as well, told her my story, and she said thanks for doing this. Had the best pork chops at Spring Creek View Bar-B-Q. Then to the general store to listen to some pickin banjo. Then back to the bunk house to modify my tent, and repair a tear in my back pack. At the general store I talked with jukebox (around my age) about does he tell his son to go in the service or what? We talked about the trail, who’s on it and how it is America’s answer to a Vision Quest.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Left Monson after a great breakfast at Shaws. I had a 3 by, which is 3 eggs, 3 bacon, 3 pancakes, and some fries. If you get a 1 by, you’re a day hiker, a 2 by a section hiker, a 3 by is a thru hiker and any more than that your staying seated awhile. A lot of people in this town thanked me for what I was doing, but it’s not me they are thanking, it is everyone’s child that ever put on a uniform to fight for what they thought was right.
It was raining but I was fine with my gear. Until I got to a crossing where a stream was now a raging river because of all the rain. I slipped and was carried away by yhe current, swam to the opposite side, my gear was a mess, Everything I had was soaked. Lost my leftover prok chops, my cell phone, my camera, & my trail guide book. I miss the pork chops and trail guide book the most. My priorities out here change, just like in any other situation in life, when you get home you just don’t turn off a switch and everything goes back to the way it was.
Kept walking to stay warm & get to a shelter where I slept wet. Not a good night sleep, the 2 hikers in the shelter gave me some hot tea.
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