Our alarm went off at 5:30a and we went, “Mmmmmm…. nope.” We hit snooze, deciding it was a good morning to sleep in. Snow Monkey and Wonder Woman agreed (I texted to see if they were good to ignore our plan). At 7:30a we actually got up. It was a cold morning. Warthog was in full thermals and his down puffy jacket. When I finally left the tent, I was able to get by in just my shorts and my long sleeve shirt. I’d rather not hike in my thermals right now if I can avoid it. We walked down to the pond and took photos. By the time we got back it was almost 9a, time to leave.
Early in the day we ran into our friends who are doing a flip flop (where you hike half of the trail one direction and the other half another). They are Sherpa, Kanga, and Roo. The last time we saw them was just after mile 700. They were in their hometown for a few weeks waiting for Katahdin to open for the season so they could start hiking south. Their plan is to end in their hometown, not at either summit (Springer or Katahdin). That way their family and friends can be there waiting and cheering them on. I’m inspired by this family. Roo is young, but they are all adventuring together. I imagine the life this little girl will have and picture one that is filled with grand memories and a love for the outdoors. We won’t cross paths with these three again on our hike. That part is sad. However, thanks to technology, we can follow along with them and watch their progress. There’s a lot of inspiration out here on the AT; whether it’s other hikers, the trail itself, or the community surrounding us all, it all (you all) inspire me and I am a better person because of it.
The cool morning let us hike longer than normal in between breaks. We stopped at a shelter just after four miles and had snacks. The next stop was another four our five miles up for lunch. Then one more another four miles after that. The terrain was super easy, no climbs over a couple hundred feet. In total we had less than 2,000 feet of elevation gain throughout the day. The forests were beautiful, the weather was good, the path was kind… it was glorious. Still, by the time we were a mile from the finish line for today, I was ready to call it.
We came out of the woods, crossed railroad tracks, and walked into a neighborhood. People waved from their homes. There was a basket of apples left out for hikers with a sign that also informed you they had already been washed. At the end of the street was a house owned by Tom L. Tom welcomes hikers into his yard free of charge. He has a specific set of rules you follow, but it’s all basically so he can keep doing what he’s doing. It’s really to respect his neighbors, keep the noise down, and be settled early.
We were arriving around 6p. His yard was already filled with tents. When we asked if we could also stay, he cautiously agreed. Something told me we were the last tents he would allow for the day. We told him we planned to resupply in town, he offered to take us to the grocery store. Seven of us went. He even gave us his discount cards and told us just to call when we were ready to be picked up. I’m so grateful for Tom and people like him. It’s their generosity that allows us to hike the trail so easily. If it weren’t for Tom, we would have to hike out of town tonight and hope for a stealth spot. Instead, we are comfy on a flat lawn with full bellies from our grocery store dinner.
There’s no rain tonight, but it’s coming tomorrow. For now, I’ll enjoy the cool, dry weather. Perfect for sleeping.
-ansel