Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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September 12, Andover, ME - mile 1911.6

My first town stop in Maine, and I think it's the smallest trail town I've seen yet. The amazing thing about it is that, despite its size, it has 3 very affordable options for overnight lodging. We've been through towns 25 times the size of this one where there was nowhere to stay for less that $100 per night. Instead, here I have a beautiful little room to myself in a B&B, with my own TV, even, plus access to laundry, phone, the kitchen and everything else I might need. For the first time on the trail, I've actually hung my clothes to dry on a clothesline! Usually my things are spread out on tree branches to dry, but this is really downtown.

Anyway, it's been a sad day for me. Since coming into town, I learned about yesterday's terrorist attacks in New York and DC. I had actually sort of heard the news yesterday from a day hiker, but his details were so brief and sketchy that I had no comprehension of the magnitude of the disaster. I first started to understand when the guy who gave me a ride into town (after waiting an hour and a half at the road - he was only the second vehicle to pass!) began telling me more about it. Then I got here and saw the paper and the TV news and it literally made me sick to my stomach. I had to turn away for a while because I felt like I was going to throw up. And then I left a message at home for Tony to call me as soon as he got it, just to be sure he wasn't anywhere near the Pentagon or that the crash wasn't near the Metro when he was on it. Later, I called my mom who had already talked to him last night, so at least I know he's fine even though I can't yet reach him.

So who knows? Maybe be the time I reach the next town, we'll be at war with somebody. I think we'd have less war and fighting and attacks against each other if more of our world leaders hiked the A.T. and got a sense of their smallness and the goodness of humankind in general.