Day 36: Finally, a NEW state!

July 9, 2009

Today, I hike west along Route 2 all of the way to Gilead.
Here I make a video update and continue along until I come to something I was beginning to wonder even existed...
the end of Maine!
That's right, for the first time in almost 5 weeks, I cross over into a NEW state...
literally!!
NEW Hampshire!!!
At last, I FINALLY get to make my very first State Farewell Video.
Then, I keep on marching to the town of Shelburne where I find a little country church, called the Union Church. The caretaker who lives in the house behind the church was outside working and I was able to get permission from him to set up camp in the side yard of the church.
And, now that I'm officially entering into the second leg of my journey, it feels REALLY good to be in a new state. I'm actually making progress.
I sincerely hope that God is able to get some glory from my travels in Maine. Only eternity will tell. :)

Day 35: Why So Hostel?

July 8, 2009

Well, there's nothing more fun than packing up camp in the rain.
I made my way west on route 2 until Bethel, where I stopped to record a video update.
Most people in town seem pretty 'put off' by the whole idea of my mission trip.
Interesting.
I finally come into contact with a local pastor, Chuck, from the Bethel Church of the Nazarene.
He takes me over and hooks me up with room #2 at the Bethel Hostel.
It made for an interesting evening, hanging out with the head of the hostel. He claimed no particular 'religious' beliefs, but being of the liberal, hippy mentality, he was quite bent on a very naturalistic, Buddhist lifestyle.
So, hopefully, God was able to use me to make a difference.

Day 34: First phone connection!

July 7, 2009

I started out the day with an AWESOME omelette in downtown Mexico.
Jay treated me to breakfast before he dropped me back at his store to continue on my trek.
I made my way west along route 2 until I got to the Visitor Center of Rumford and hung out with my good buddy, Paul Bunyan.
Then, I headed to Hanover and got some lunch at Gordie Howe's Restaurant? Nope, not THAT one.
This is the town where I had the unique opportunity of dropping into the Public Library and visit with a quilting group as they worked on their next project.
They offered me some hot chocolate as I sat with them discussing the mission trip and the reason for it.
At this point, I knew I was a bit too far away from the next town to get much further. So, I hiked about 1 or 2 more miles and found a cozy little spot in the trees just to the left of the road.
This is by far the closest I've ever slept to the road. The trees were SO THICK that I was barely 15 yards from the cars. But, there was NO WAY anyone was going to spot me in those woods.
Once I got camp set up, I pulled out my phone and to my amazement, I ACTUALLY HAVE A SIGNAL!! WOOHOOO!!!!
This is the absolute FIRST time on this whole trip that my phone (Sprint) has worked. So, needless to say, I spent the next couple of hours draining my battery as I called friends that I haven't talked to since before I began.
It was a good night. :)

Day 33: Mexico

July 6, 2009

Well, the big weekend of the 4th is finally over and it's time for me to get out of Dixfield.
Now, most of the time, when people ask me where I'm hiking to, I tell them Mexico.
Well, lo and behold, as I continue west on route 2, what do I find? Mexico, Maine. Yup.
I stop for a quick break at the Master's Plan Cafe & Bookstore, the first Christian Store I've encountered on this trip.
Inside, I meet the owner, Jay, and his family. And, after MUCH Bible discussion, the next thing I know, it's almost dark outside.
How in the world did that happen?
It's all good, though, because Jay invited me to come eat dinner with his family and stay the night at his house.
Their family fills up the house pretty well so I went ahead and set up my tent in the backyard and enjoyed a restful night's sleep.

Day 32: Sammie Angel

July 5, 2009

Today, I got to enjoy a genuine, down home, small town musical celebration.
First up, though, was a church service where I got to meet several of the locals. Then we headed on over to, you guessed it, the Front Porch Cafe.
The weather was really nice today so the owner, Sammie Angel, was able to follow through with her 'gig' in the downtown gazebo.
That was a lot of fun. A whole bunch of people were spread throughout the town square with lawn chairs in tow. Everyone had a good time listening to some good music and, in many cases, singing and dancing along as well.
When all was said and done, we headed over to the Dixfield House of Pizza and enjoyed some dinner.
Once we got back to the house, I was able to sit down and do some more editing and uploaded a video of some of the more peculiar things I've witnessed in Maine as of late.

Day 31: The 4th of July

July 4, 2009

Of course, I used today to sleep in again.
Then, I went on down to the Front Porch Cafe for some more tasty food.
It's Saturday and, unfortunately, it's raining quite a bit. So much so that the special musical performance by Sammie Angel (the Front Porch Cafe owner) had to be postponed. Although she would stay dry on the gazebo stage, the outside audience wouldn't have the same luxury.
Oh well.
Hopefully tomorrow will be a nicer day for it.
So, for today, I decide to take the opportunity to edit and upload a video from some footage I still have leftover of some friends and their kids in Pensacola, Florida.

Day 30: Rest

July 3, 2009

What, with it being the fourth of July weekend, I let the Heurings talk me into hanging out through Sunday so that I can stay for church service.
I find this to be a good time to sleep in.
By mid-afternoon, I get a phone call from the Front Porch Cafe to come on down for some more free food. I can't argue with that. :)
So, I take a stroll through the town and take in some of the sights.
It sure is cozy around here.
Today's my friend Paul's birthday so I give him a call.
This is the first time I've been able to contact him since I began the trip.
I can't wait until I can find sections of the U.S. where I can actually get Sprint service.
Wowzerz! That'll be nice!!