AT thruhike 2018

Sep 13th

I woke late and listened to the world around me. Once up the hostel was buzzing
We all headed to the lodge on mass for the all you can eat buffet $22
We had to wait several minutes until they could accommodate us.

Once seated coffee arrived then i headed for the buffet.
Grabbed a plate and dug in. scrambled egg, country potatoes and bacon. Although I wish they wouldn’t cook the bacon so much. This was followed by pancakes smothered in huckleberry sauce, divine.
I devoured several bowls of fresh fruit salad before going for more bacon and eggs.
All this was washed down with several vats of orange juice and coffee.

Once I could eat no more I headed to the hostel

Next job:- Permits!!!
I can’t hike any further until I obtain these I managed to catch a lift to “Two medicine” with Legs.
I wasn’t bothered about doing big miles though legs wanted 28’s.
I left most of the planning to the Ranger as I didn’t want to do big mileage .I wanted to make the most of the “End”
So I have a mix of 18 and 15 miles to the border so about 7 days. sorted.
Others are doing 28’s that’s too much especially as the finish line is in sight
Okay laundry time, I rounded up my stinky gear and headed to the laundrette . An hour later I’m done and headed back.
Next chore was the post office, there was a ride organised so I tagged on.
The postoffice lady thought I was moving in with the amount of boxes I had here. Far too many……

I grabbed my gear and headed back omg can I carry all of this stuff in my pack ……
I went through my gear and filled my pack. As I’m chilling there is a steady stream of hikers arriving and leaving so many faces new and old to wish well and safe travels too.

.Next job shower as I stink. Omg that’s so good I’m clean…for a while.
Once my chores are done it’s just chilling time. Beer and veg out…..

mileage zero!

Saturday 22nd September

I spent a few days in Millinocket hoping that the weather would improve to allow me to see Kadahdin without cloud or fog . but instead the weather got steadily worse. So no shot of me with blue sky. But it’s Done and I am slowly heading home.

The nice but about staying longer at The Hostel is that you see more of your friends arriving so you get to catch up on the gossip of who is where .
So it was good to catch up with Tree hugger. he had a nasty burn on his back. caused by a Washing pod. He had washed his clothes, and maybe the machine had stopped . unknowingly he then transferred his clothes to the dryer. The next day he put them on and some one. noticed the pod still on his shirt.
Again he thought nothing of it and hiked out . after an hour he was complaining of “pack rub” which steadily got worse.
His hiking buddy then noticed that it was foamy at the bottom of his shirt. Tree Hugger then realised what it was. and quickly took of his clothes and washed them in a stream but by now he was a huge chemical burn on his lower back.
so be careful out there and never carry these pods in your pockets!!
And also check your laundry when using these pods.

I glad to he has okay
So I’m heading to Boston today for a few days before I fly home.
I was up early went for breakfast before packing the rest of my gear into my suitcases.
I said goodbye to the rest of the guys and good luck to those who are climbing tomorrow.
It was now time to grab the shuttle , unusually it was just me. 20 minutes later I’m at the gas station (bus stop) as I go in to buy my ticket I see Sunshine the Japanese hiker.
Good to see him we have our normal conversation in broken English before the bus arrives.

9.40 and I am on leg one to Bangor