This morning I awoke to a southbound hiker screaming because he didn't feel well and was fearing that it was the Mahoosickness (Norovirus). He was supposed to do the Mahoosuc Notch today, the most difficult and, to some, fun part of the A.T. (I will get to do it in a few days!) He was looking forward to it. I hope he feels better soon! After crawling out of my tent, I walked sleepily up to the dining room and sat down for breakfast. The woman who owns "The Cabin" fixes hikers an all you can eat breakfast of blueberry pancakes, sausage links, scrambled eggs, canteloupe, orange juice, and coffee. I ate sooooo much and felt so energetic afterward. It is completely awesome how I can feel energy changes in my body when I eat on the trail. I could be completely exhausted and just dragging myself up a mountain and then put a Snickers in my belly and perk right back up.
The rest of the morning was slightly stressful because Mosey and I were abandoned at the cabin with no way into town or the trail head (maybe they forgot?) So, I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen that's available for hiker use when I just wanted to be hiking! I was given a $5 discount on my $10 fee for the night because I cleaned though, which was really awesome :) By the time Mosey and I had been picked up, taken to resupply, and taken to the trailhead it was 2:00 in the afternoon. We wanted to do 8 miles and started the hike pushing for that, but the first 4 miles were straight up and down mountains and took too long to hike to be able to pull another 4 before dark. We ended up at a lean-to on top of a mountain with no one else around. The entire evening was relaxing- we just laid out our sleeping pads in the tent sites and talked for hours while lounging. It was a wonderfully deep conversation and I learned a lot about Mosey. He has become a very good friend of mine and I'm really enjoying hiking with him.
I realized today that I get to talk a lot about my father out here, which is really nice because in every day conversation the topic just doesn't come up that often. Within the past 24 hours I have talked to multiple people about my father. I've talked about the Coast Guard, him pulling me around in a little red wagon when I was young, him putting a window seat in my room, his last words to me, and even about his thoughts regarding death and the afterlife. I am so appreciative to the trail for allowing me to share my father with so many people and for also giving me a shared experience with him even after his death.
I am sure I will sleep well tonight- hopefully no Sasquatches invade my dreams tonight :)
Song of the day- Florence and the Machine "Shake It Out"
Pictures:
1- "The Cabin"
2- a teepee behind the cabin. It was huge and completely legitimate!
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