Day 13

June 16, 2009

Today is pretty cool.
I've FINALLY made it to Millinocket!
This is exciting because Millinocket is the 'official' start and/or finish of the Appalachian Trail.
Though, I don't plan to exclusively hike on the AT, it's still nice to be somewhere where I can fellowship with other travelers.
While in East Millinocket, I was approached by an older couple who turned out to be the former owners of the Appalachian Trail Cafe and Lodge so, naturally, they directed me to that very same place.
I, for one, am very glad that they did.
Along the way, I was forced to turn down yet another ride offer. So far, I get a LOT of opportunities for rides but, of course, I'm hiking coast to coast so I certainly can't cheat.
It always gives me a great opportunity to share the mission of what I'm doing, though.
The lady who offered me a ride this time was so impressed that she insisted on at least giving me some money. So, ten dollars was a welcome addition to my wallet that day. :)
Once I made it to the Cafe, I thought it might be a pretty good idea to purchase a copy of the 'Thru-Hiker's Handbook' - 2009 Edition, which is the 'official' handbook for the Appalachian Trail. I also managed to gain the interest of the couple in the booth next to me. After talking to them for a while about the mission and what I was doing, they managed to force some money into my pocket as well.
(This is an amazing day of watching God meet my financial needs, seeing as how I had just begun to worry about being able to pay for the rest of this trip. The current stash of money in my bank account wasn't going to come close to getting me all of the way to California, but now I'm seeing that God has some connections of His own. So, I am mighty thankful for that.)
And, after all of that, I manage to find my way over to the AT Lodge where they have a bunk house and I'm sleeping in Room #8 on the top floor.
But, before I turn in for the night, I get my first real opportunity to talk to 'other' travelers.
Very cool!
One couple is from Georgia and they work as teachers and they've decided to start in Maine and walk all of the way back home with their dog. They appear to have over-packed quite a bit, though, and it doesn't sound like they've prepared recently with any warm-up hikes or anything like that. So, this is going to be a VERY interesting trip for them, to be sure. I REALLY hope they make it.
Amongst the other occupants of the Lodge, lo and behold, it's the couple from the Cafe. It turns out that they work just off the east coast of Maine with a couple of lobster boats and they're spending their vacation touring around with the in-land folk and taking lots of pictures along the way. They're a very entertaining couple and I only wish that I'd have gotten some contact information from them. Hopefully, God will brings our paths together again someday.
Only time will tell.

Day 12

June 15, 2009

I've recently started to accumulate quite a bit of soreness in my travels thus far. The most concerning of which involves some numbness in my left thigh. It doesn't seem so much to be the muscle or anything like that, but more of a numbness in the skin.
That's weird.
So, with that in mind, I decide to stay an extra day at the Katahdin Shadows Motel and let some healing kick in. Apparently, the nerves in my leg aren't in complete agreement about carrying 50 pounds around every day. So, we'll see if some extra rest might help.
In the meantime, I uploaded this Keith Green Song to Youtube.

Day 11

June 14, 2009

Today finds me continuing south on Route 11, escorted by multitudinous amounts of black flies.
Oh, how I love these guys!
I found some temporary relief at the Grindstone Falls Rest Area but, alas, I must keep going.
At long last, I finally manage to stumble upon a campground. Unfortunately, they want money and they have no wireless hookup so I can't justify it.
I've managed to figure out that if I'm going to have to pay for food or shelter, it's only worth it if I can get on-line.
So instead, I decide to push on for 4 more miles into the town of Medway to see what awaits me there. Of course, what's four miles without a torrential downpour?
I spot Aeries, a cozy little restaurant, and duck into it to get out of the rain for a bit and scarf down a plate of tasty food.
They direct me down the road to the Katahdin Shadows Motel where I find a good excuse to stay the night in Room #106. They have wireless, but it's only accessible in the 'kitchen' area.
That's good enough for me!
Now, it's off to take a shower and get caught up on some sleep.

Day 10

June 13, 2009

On the way out of Patten, I decide that buying a long-sleeved, hooded bug screen shirt would be an EXCELLENT way to spend twenty dollars.
The black flies know that I'm right!
I'm headed south on Route 11 again and this is where I find a particularly interesting turtle.
He was just at the edge of the road, about to take one more step into the lane of on-coming traffic when I decided to give him a hand.
So, I approach him from the side with my boot first so that he would duck inside the shell. This would enable me to pick him up and move him to safety, right?
Wrong!
This little guy wasn't ducking into anything.
He kept attacking my boot!
So, after about 5 minutes, I decide to distract him with a stick. While he's attacking that, I'm finally able to pick him up and toss him deeper into the woods.
He's was a feisty little booger. Almost makes me think that maybe he WANTED to get hit by a car. I've never met a turtle with a death-wish before, but there's always the first time.
The road eventually opens up to some beautiful views of Mt. Katahdin and the Baxter State Park area to the west (although I'm pretty sure there's no such state with the name Baxter).
And, today my travels take me to the other side of Staceyville, so that I can ditch and pitch behind a tree grove on the right.
Believe me, this new hooded screen shirt is a lifesaver!

Day 9

June 12, 2009

I tried to sleep in today, waiting as long as I could for the rain to stop.
It didn't.
Between the rain and the slug-covered tent (which might come in handy in a survival situation), it made for a more than interesting morning to be sure.
So, I packed up all of my wet gear and headed south on Route 11. Once I reached Patten, I figured it might be a really good idea to check into Room #2 at the Bartlett Lodge, dry out all of my stuff, and take an extremely long shower.
I was right.
This also gave me the first opportunity to check out the blood-spotted trail etched across my forehead (on account of the dew-rag I was wearing) from the 'black fly' invasion of the night before. This'll be an interesting look for the next couple of weeks.
After this, I decided to visit the local lunch counter at Debbie's where I enjoyed the All-You-Can-Eat Haddock, then I walked across the street to take care of my laundry situation for the first, and most certainly not the last, time of this trip.
In the laundromat, I met a pasty white young man who seemed to think of himself as some sort of a Native American. He was sporting a wrestling t-shirt with 'the Undertaker' on it and proceeded to tell me that his 'spirit animal' was the wolf. He also informed me that the local pastor had explained to him that there's more than one way to 'get to heaven'.
I did my best to assure him that there is not and I certainly gave him plenty to think about. So, one can only hope that he finds the truth before it's too late.
As I relax in the hotel room tonight, I'm able to catch the last couple of minutes of Game 7 of the Stanley Cup between Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Pittsburgh wins. What's up with that city this year? First football and now this?
I really enjoy the tradition of good sportmanship at the end of a hockey game when they greet each other in the middle of the ice.
I can't help but think that the average, every-day Asian might think that all of these bearded, toothless lumberjack lookin', pasty white boys might be hard to tell apart.
I know I'm certainly not capable. ;)
And, as I flip through the channels, it's also good to see that Leno has FINALLY been replaced by somebody that's actually funny. The world 'almost' makes sense again, except for the whole Pittsburgh thing, of course.

Day 8

June 11, 2009

This morning, I decided to use the shelter as a backdrop for C2C4C Update #5.
I, then, continue west on my journey down Town Line Road until I am met by what can only be described by imagining three hobos driving a car down a road to nowhere in the middle of Maine.
The two in the front seat were the only ones to speak and, if I'm not mistaken, they told me their names were Bob and Fred.
(Now, the entertainment value of these names is not lost on this former Philmont trekker, I'll tell you that. As for the rest of you, trust me, it's funny.)
They were not, let's say, of the most coherent mind sets of the legal driving laws I'm sure. But, they insisted on offering me a ride and to come hang out with them at their 'property'. I declined, of course, but enjoyed spending the ensuing time witnessing to them about what God has done for them.
It was an intricate dance of a conversation that involved Fred, the passenger, being very interested in what I had to say while Bob, the driver, was busy trying to describe the time in the 70's that he actually encountered the Alpha and the Omega together, in person. Meanwhile, their backseat buddy continued to occupy himself with whatever 'substance' he was fiddling with. (wink)
In the end, when they finally came to a consensus of an understanding of what I was doing, they were more than a little impressed and taken aback at my mission. And, Bob was so concerned, he gave me a dollar for some food. (Now, that doesn't sound like much but, this is my first 'real' donation to the cause. And, considering the source, I am grateful for such humble beginnings.)
After all of the excitement, I eventually find my way to Route 11 and turn south, where I have my first 'almost' bear encounter.
As I'm walking down the road I hear a car approaching from behind, but it doesn't pass. After half a minute I turn around to see the car stopped in the middle of the road about 50 yards behind me. I start to wonder what this guy's up to but all I can do is continue to hike, considering at this point I'm beginning to run out of daylight and I'm more than a little bit tired.
Eventually, the car approaches and pulls alongside of me and the guy leans out of the window and says, "Hey, did you see that bear on the side of the road back there? That's the biggest one I've ever seen in these parts! It must've been at least 350 pounds!!"
I, of course, informed him that I had not, but I am most appreciative in hearing such news now that I'm looking for a place to camp. So, at this point, I decide that hiking another mile and ditching to the left side of the road might be very appropriate.
This is also the day that I reached the end of Aroostook County. Imagine that, one county down, countless more to go!
And, if the day wasn't exciting enough already, setting up camp near the crest of a hill in the treeline somewhere in Mount Chase, Maine was my official introduction to 'the black flies'. I don't fully know what kind of new evil this is but, again, I say, "Thank God for tents with No See-Um screens!!!"
The sunset was nice but I think I miss the mosquitoes. :(

Day 7

June 10, 2009

Today, I leave the modern porcelain comforts of Room #2 and head west on Route 2.
Once I manage to drag myself to the local Smyrna Mills Post Office, I gladly duck in and send home 8 1/2 pounds worth of goodies. The blessings of such an event can NOT be overestimated!
On the outside of town, I briefly stop to video the C2C4C Update #4. Then, I head west on County Line Road.
At this point, my left heel has been giving me so much trouble that it's now affecting my left knee. And, the pain is quite excruciating with each step. So, with much prayer and whimpering, I gratefully find myself at the 'Roach Farm' Lean-To Shelter along the IAT. (I really hope that's their name and NOT what they do!)
This place ROCKS!
They've got two trailers set up, a nice fire pit, and even a stash of bottled water.
And, not a moment too soon!

Day 6

June 9, 2009

Go west young man!
Today, I get to do just that. It's my first real chance to go in that direction, so it'll be interesting to see what treasures await me yonder way.
My heel is still giving me some trouble as I head out on Ludlow Road. I follow this for several hours until I see what looks to be a homeless man up ahead on the left. As I get closer, he greets me and wants to know all about my travels and such. He says that I'm the first person he's seen on the IAT this year and only a couple of people had done it the year before.
(Now, I realize that I've been traveling pretty much exclusively on roads so far but, unfortunately, that's the route of the IAT in Maine. Bummer, huh? And, not mention, the roads are not lending themselves to be very pedestrian friendly, as of yet.)
Well, as it turns out, my new friend isn't homeless at all. He actually lives on and owns the property. He just doesn't have a house built on it. But, what he does have is pretty amazing. He tells me the locals call him 'Johnny Underground'. That's due to the fact that he has managed to burrow out a cozy little home for himself in the side of the hill. He's got gardens, outdoor bathtubs, an outhouse, sheds, a bicycle, shelves full of books to get him through the winters, you name it, he's got it covered. If I remember correctly, he told me that he hasn't driven a car since the 70's. (by choice, it just got too expensive to put up with)
So, after hanging out with him for a bit, I gave him my copy of Chuck Missler's book, 'Hidden Treasures', so that he would have something extra good to read this winter.
And, as I hiked the next mile west on Ludlow, he came along with me, bare feet and all.
We parted ways as I turned left to pass under the highway and I couldn't help but wonder if he was better off than most.
I finally found myself in Smyrna Mills at the Brookside Restaurant and after having an amazingly satisfying meal, I decided to treat myself to room #2 at their hotel.
(Keep in mind, I haven't showered since I left Zion Bible College. I know, right?)