Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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August 5, Eastern Mountain Retreat - mile 1510.6

I found this hostel a mile & a half off the trail tonight, so I sprung for it, lured by the thought of a shower & clean laundry, which I won't have time for in the next town stop. Unfortunately, I had to walk the whole way uphill on the road, because no one would stop to pick me up, but I'm still glad to be here. I've got a soft mattress for the night & some salad & garlic bread on the way from the nearby pizza place, & most of all, there are no BUGS in here! I nearly went insane today with the mosquitoes & deer flies biting me, even though I was swimming in DEET. I met a fellow on the road, who was renting a house in the area for a two-week vacation, & he told me this area is legendary for the bugs. YAY! just my luck! I hope Vermont is less bug-infested.

There's a lot of hikers here tonight - I think about 15 or so. A huge group arrived here just after 7, & so we've been playing musical beds, figuring out where everyone is going to stay. It's quite a zoo.

Outside of the bugs, today was quite nice. I love the huge stands of pines - the world below is so dark & cool and quiet. And the trail is so soft & comfortable with the pine needles everywhere. The most amazing part of today was seeing a large owl fly across the trail right in front of me. I don't really know my owls, but I think it was a barn owl. It was beautiful! I hear them all the time at night but I've never actually see one, so that was fantastic.