114 miles down! We made it to Monson, Maine this morning after finishing the section of the trail known as the 100 Mile Wilderness. This section is considered to be the most remote section of the trail. Maine is beautiful and the weather has been nearly perfect. Just one morning of pouring down rain (which helped to wash off some of the 9 day stink).
The biggest news besides walking our first 100 miles is that we've got our trail names. Shawn is known as Picker on the trail. He can't walk by a piece of trash with out picking it up and packing it out (and complaining about people's carelessness). I am now called Grinner- I'm just happy to be out walking.
We've been so fortunate to have good health this first, and most critical 10 days on the trail. There's not a blister or hot spot between us. Besides some stiffness and sore feet we're feeling great and looking forward to getting back out on the trail tomorrow, but not until after we've had our 2nd all you can eat hiker breakfast here at Shaw's Hostel (aka hiker paradise). Expect to hear from us in about a week from Stratton, ME.
Still Walking...
We set this blog up to chronicle our Southbound hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2010. We called our blog A Long Walk Together. Our hike was a great success, and to this day we continue to walk to gather in marriage, in adventures, in life, and in love. I decided that if our walk isn't over, this blog's not over either.
7.11.2010
7.01.2010
Leaving on a Jet Plane
With our gear shipped ahead to Maine and all other belongings in storage, we flew out of Orlando yesterday afternoon. By 11:30 we were in Bangor, Maine trying to get some sleep on the floor in the airport. We had limited success.
So this morning we were up for a 5am breakfast in the airport before venturing to town. We walked to the bus station, bought our tickets for this evening and got some vague directions to the library 3 miles away in downtown Bangor. Thanks to some kid on his way to summer school who was heading our way anyway, we made it... only to find out we were an hour early so we walked around town like vagabonds. Its nice not having anything to do.
We had a great time in Florida this last week, visiting friends and family. We really enjoyed all the hiking questions- what do you eat? how far do you walk? do you carry a tent? etc. We try to paint a rosy picture of this hike but we've noticed that others' descriptions aren't as flattering. Our aunt Amy and cousin Shana both had comical ways of describing our walk in the woods as an endless trudge in the worst possible conditions. All we could do is laugh nervously. We know this hike will, at times, be closer to their description than our own. But our hearts are in this and we plan on laughing our way through all of our misadventures.
Tomorrow morning we climb Katahdin and start walking south. We'll have to make it through the '100 mile wilderness' before our first town stop. If we are able to get online in Monson, ME you can expect another post in 11 days or so.
So this morning we were up for a 5am breakfast in the airport before venturing to town. We walked to the bus station, bought our tickets for this evening and got some vague directions to the library 3 miles away in downtown Bangor. Thanks to some kid on his way to summer school who was heading our way anyway, we made it... only to find out we were an hour early so we walked around town like vagabonds. Its nice not having anything to do.
We had a great time in Florida this last week, visiting friends and family. We really enjoyed all the hiking questions- what do you eat? how far do you walk? do you carry a tent? etc. We try to paint a rosy picture of this hike but we've noticed that others' descriptions aren't as flattering. Our aunt Amy and cousin Shana both had comical ways of describing our walk in the woods as an endless trudge in the worst possible conditions. All we could do is laugh nervously. We know this hike will, at times, be closer to their description than our own. But our hearts are in this and we plan on laughing our way through all of our misadventures.
Tomorrow morning we climb Katahdin and start walking south. We'll have to make it through the '100 mile wilderness' before our first town stop. If we are able to get online in Monson, ME you can expect another post in 11 days or so.
6.01.2010
31 Days and Counting....
Our trip itinerary is as follows:
June 24th- Load up our Uhaul trailer and say good bye and good riddance to Fayetteville, NC forever. Drive to Florida and store all our belongings with Shawn's dad.
June 30th- Fly from Orlando to Bangor, Maine. Sleep in the airport.
July 1st= Hang out in Bangor all day and get on the bus to Medway at 6:30pm. Get picked up by someone from the AT Lodge, stay in their bunkhouse.
July 2nd- Catch an early breakfast and a shuttle to Baxter State Park. Hike to the top of Katahdin and officially begin our hike south.
*as is usual with long-distance hiking, all plans are subject to change based on any number of unforseeable conditions including but not limited to weather, hunger, laziness, acts of God, etc.
We have most of our gear and half our apartment is packed up. Its just a waiting game now.
June 24th- Load up our Uhaul trailer and say good bye and good riddance to Fayetteville, NC forever. Drive to Florida and store all our belongings with Shawn's dad.
June 30th- Fly from Orlando to Bangor, Maine. Sleep in the airport.
July 1st= Hang out in Bangor all day and get on the bus to Medway at 6:30pm. Get picked up by someone from the AT Lodge, stay in their bunkhouse.
July 2nd- Catch an early breakfast and a shuttle to Baxter State Park. Hike to the top of Katahdin and officially begin our hike south.
*as is usual with long-distance hiking, all plans are subject to change based on any number of unforseeable conditions including but not limited to weather, hunger, laziness, acts of God, etc.
We have most of our gear and half our apartment is packed up. Its just a waiting game now.
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