Night Twenty Nine: An Old Goat Returns

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Saturday 7-3-2010 O Miles Hiked, 1932.7 Miles To Springer The port a potty door banged close behind me as I exited after my morning poop. It had only been two days since it’s delivery and it was already getting gross. Hundreds of beetles and flies crawled all over the waste floating in blue water. I could feel them land on me while I sat. When I looked up after I exited Caretaker was standing in front of me. “Want to go hiker cruising?” He asked. “Sure. What’s hiker cruising?” I asked. “Just driving through town and seeing if any hikers need a ride Read More....

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Night Twenty Eight: Driving To Devil’s Den

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Friday 7-2-2010 0 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer This morning Caretakers’s mood shifted the same way it had after Mud had failed to knock and wait that first day we arrived. The latest people to cross him wrong were Monkey and Giggles. They had been hanging around inside Bob too long. Caretaker came into the conex and told them they were supposed to be out by 10:00 A.M,. but there was no sign indicating this anywhere. If they planned to stay any longer Caretaker told them they’d need to pay for another night and if they weren’t going to stay another night they Read More....

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Night Twenty Seven: Mmmmm…..Moose

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Thursday 7-1-2010 0 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer The NOBO hikers I met the day before left my life as quickly as they came into it. We got a group picture in front of the RV before they left. I watched as they packed up, and loaded up to head back to the trail just as I had watch Mud do the day before and I felt alone again. I think Caretaker’s wife, Nightcrawler, sensed I was lonely, down, and struggling. Nightcrawler is a woman whose personality emits warmth and comfort. She’s is younger than her husband is Greek and has the tan complexion, and long thick black air Read More....

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Night Twenty Six: There’s More Than Mud

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Wednesday 6-30-2010 0 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer Mud picked up his pack, walked out of the RV and loaded it into the back of Caretakers truck. For every time he had ever been on my nerves or annoyed me, none of it mattered. I was going to really miss him. He’d become a close friend. He was the only person besides my college roommate that I’d ever spent more than two weeks sharing a sleeping space with. Mud and I didn’t just share a bedroom. We shared almost every moment of every day for the last three weeks. We’d spent every day, all day together. Read More....

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Night Twenty Five: One Last Night of Mud

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Tuesday 6-29-2010 0 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer My fist pounded against the storm door of Caretaker’s house around 8:30 A.M. It was far too hot for a morning in Maine. I waited a couple minutes and then a shirtless Caretaker answered the door. “Is it okay if I use the bathroom?” I asked. “You certainly may. It’s nice to have one hiker staying with us who has some manners.” He said. “Your friend just barged in this morning without waiting for us to let him in. I don’t like people just walking in and there’s something I just Read More....

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Night Twenty Four: What’s Next, Home or Here?

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Monday 6-28-2010 0 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer When I woke my ankle had nearly doubled in size and looked as though someone had inserted an orange underneath my skin. When I asked David if he could drive me to the doctor he said he was too busy shuttling other hikers around all day. He said he might be able to drive me the 25 miles to the family health center in Bethel the next day. I was actually enjoying my down time lying in bed and watching the Price Is Right, it brought back memories of staying home from school sick when I was a little kid. I can remember faking sick just Read More....

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Night Twenty Three: Could The End Be In Andover?

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Sunday 6-27-2010 8.7 Miles Hiked, 1,932.7 Miles to Springer Advil is a miracle drug. The chills, fever, and cold sweat that tormented me all night had faded within an hour of gulping down my Advil with a Nalgene full of electrolyte infused water. The only thing bothering me now was minor nausea, but nothing that was going to keep me from hiking, from moving forward, from getting out of this God awful place called Maine. It was time to get a state crossed off my list and with forty miles left I was chomping at the bit to be done with Maine. One of the weekend campers walked up to me with a Read More....

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Night Twenty Two: Most Miles In Maine

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Saturday 6-26-2010 19.5 Miles Hiked, 1,941.4 Miles to Springer ABEAR was asleep when we left the shelter this morning. He had a liner sock over his eyes to block out the morning sun since he had no need for an early start with the two mile stroll into Rangely that lay ahead. Mud and I separated early today and I led the way early on. About twenty minutes into the hike a rogue grouse came running full speed from the forest. After it had taken about ten steps it was airborne and flew two feet in front of my face. “What the he’ll was that about?” I thought. It squawked and Read More....

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Night Twenty One: Saddleback Mountain Magic

Monday, July 5th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="aligncenter" width="614" caption="The view from the peak of Saddleback Mountain In Maine"][/caption] Friday, 6-25-2010 16.9 Miles Hiked, 1,960.9 Miles to Springer Mud informed me that the General and the Cadets woke up at 4:30 A.M. and were hiking by 5:00 A.M. Mud and I on the other hand didn’t get started hiking until 8:55 A.M. and ABEAR had left about a half hour before us. We blazed through the first eight miles of the day. Mud stopped for an early snack break, but I pushed on looking to get some more mileage in before I rested and refueled. By Read More....

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Night Twenty: Three 4,000 Footers and Plenty of Flames

Monday, July 5th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="461" caption="Privy Without A Door Visibile To Everyone In The Spaulding Mt. Lean-To"][/caption] Thursday, 6-24-2010 13.5 Miles Hiked, 1,977.8 Miles to Springer I woke this morning exhausted from the less than five hours sleep I had under my eyes. I crept down the stairs not wanting to wake Abraham, Bishop, and Mud. My grungy clothing dropped on the cold tiled bathroom  floor as I disrobed. I hopped in the shower hoping it would help me wake up, and excited at the prospect of being clean before we hit the trail again. I was thrilled Read More....

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