"I don't know where I'm going, but I am on my way."
-Voltaire
Start: RPH Shelter
Finish: Pine Grove Motel
Today: 12.5 mi
Total: 276.0 mi
One great thing about the AT is you get to meet so many people, find out about where they come from and, most of all, really learn about yourself. You get a crash course on your strengths, weaknesses, ability to think on your feet, and discover what you should and shouldn't do. Today I learned not to eat a snickers before visiting the privy...unless you want to see the snickers again.
We covered the first 5.2 miles by noon and like most hikers, were lured by a .8 mi detour to a deli. Since these aren't AT miles, we can't add them to our totals. Bummer. So often you'll find that hikers will walk several miles extra each day for food, views, shelters and water sources off the trail. Heather got a sandwich at the deli but I cooked a Mountain House meal to lighten my pack a bit. More than any other food, I crave ravioli. Mmm...
By 3pm, nearly 4 miles later, we arrived at Morgan Stewart Shelter. One hiker was still in her tent sleeping. Either she was night hiking or in town at a bar last night. We plopped down on the picnic table for a well-deserved foot break. While looking at the hiker log, Heather's face lost all expression. She saw an entry from a hiker who drowned a few weeks ago in Maine. He went swimming in a lake, one week before summiting Katahdin, and his legs completely cramped. I guess any of us can die at any moment. I'm glad Parkside spent his last 6 months doing something that he loved.
For both of us, our blisters were unbearable today. Each step was a sharp pain. Blisters are like wack-a-mole. The minute one heals another one (or seven) pop up. We were planning to do a 17 mile day to Telephone Pioneers Shelter but Heather's feet and back hurt badly. Ending at 12.5 mi in a town with shower and laundry is probably a good thing anyway since I smell pretty ripe. We can't seem to do more than 15 miles without Heather killing her feet or knees. When we get to Kent, CT in a couple days she's going to try out a new pair of boots. I really hope that solves her problems.
But at this pace we won't be able to make it to Maine. Heather wants to end mid-August at Mt Washington but I'd like to hike one week into Maine. We'll see how we're feeling when the time comes. Heather complained a few days ago I end my posts abruptly.
~DADDY LONG LEGS
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