Journals

According to Pittsburgh:

AUGUST 31, 1997 - SUNDAY
NTO hiked out from US 2. PANTHER FAN, SUNSHINE and I headed for BETHEL ME, then drove north on SUCCESS POND ROAD for five or six miles to the SUCCESS TRAIL parking area. this is where NTO will be hiking to. here we dropped off SUNSHINE, and most of the supplies. PANTHER FAN and I left on a quest to find the PITTSBURGH/DALLAS FOOTBALL GAME on TV somewhere. we drove for many miles, but were not successful...
dejected, we drove back to the SUCCESS TRAIL to await NTO. I hiked in a few tenths of a mile and met her as she came down. she had had a tough day, but was glad that it was not a BACKPACK. we camped at the parking area...

SEPTEMBER 1, 1997 - MONDAY
SUNSHINE returns to the hiking circuit today. she feels confident that her GROIN PULL has again healed sufficiently so that she can hike. NTO and SUNSHINE headed out from the SUCCESS TRAIL. PANTHER FAN and I drove for just six or seven miles to the MAHOOSIC NOTCH TRAIL parking area. the smiling ladies arrived many hours later. we camped at the parking area...
we are now in MAINE, the fourteenth and last state of our journey. our intended end date is september 24th...

SEPTEMBER 2, 1997 - TUESDAY
   SUNSHINE and NTO headed out from the MAHOOSIC NOTCH TRAIL. PANTHER FAN and I took the forest roads to ME 26, then to BETHEL ME to do some shopping and laundry. we headed to GRAFTON NOTCH (ME 26) to pick up the ladies. TAGALONG arrived in her van to await BUZZY, JOURNEYMAN, and STARLIGHT...
   PANTHER FAN and I put on our hiking shoes and did the EYEBROW TRAIL loop. this is a spectacular 2.1 mile hike up and over a dramatic cliff, then connecting with the AT and returning to GRAFTON NOTCH. as I was descending into the NOTCH, I came upon NTO and SUNSHINE ahead of me. I snuck up behind them. they were temporarily bewildered, and had a good laugh...
   TIMMY and PETER PAN arrived at GRAFTON NOTCH. she has been away from us for a week, and is coming back to resume hiking. she and PETER PAN headed to BETHEL and a motel. the rest of us headed for the STONY BROOK CAMPGROUND in NEWRY ME for the night...
SEPTEMBER 3, 1997 - WEDNESDAY
   PETER PAN and TIMMY met us at GRAFTON NOTCH (ME 26). it was very cold and windy and the ladies were making noises like they were not going to hike. some gentle prodding (harassment) helped to change their minds, and they geared up and headed out...
   PETER PAN headed for HANOVER NH which will be his base of operations for the rest of the hike. he will join us every week or so for a day or two. PANTHER FAN and I headed out to scout road crossings and accommodations for the days ahead. we eventually ended up at EAST B HILL ROAD where the ladies will be ending their hike. they all arrived, a bit wind blown, but happy. we headed again to the STONY BROOK CAMPGROUND for the night...

SEPTEMBER 4, 1997 - THURSDAY
the nights have been very chilly. great sleeping weather, poor getting up weather. we headed for EAST B HILL ROAD for the start of todays hike. PANTHER FAN and I then continued our exploring. we ended up at SOUTH ARM ROAD where the ladies will be ending their hike. they came in smiling. we stayed the night at COOS CANYON CAMPGROUND...

SEPTEMBER 5, 1997 - FRIDAY
the ladies began their hike at ME 17 and headed south. the scenery at the road crossing is spectacular. during the day PANTHER FAN and I saw a mama moose and her baby...
we picked up the ladies at SOUTH ARM ROAD, ate supper in ANDOVER ME, then headed for COOS CANYON CAMPGROUND for the night...

SEPTEMBER 6, 1997 - SATURDAY
the ladies began their hike at ME 17 and headed north. during the day, PANTHER FAN and I did some scouting of road crossings ahead. we later picked the ladies up at ME 4, then headed for RANGELEY LAKE CAMPGROUND. BUZZY, TAGALONG, JOURNEYMAN, STARLIGHT, FRODO, BOY WONDER, SUPER TRAMP, and WRANGLER were also at the campground...

SEPTEMBER 7, 1997 - SUNDAY
we dropped SUNSHINE and NTO at ME 4 with full packs. TIMMY decided not to do the hike. they have a two day backpack ahead of them ending at CARIBOU VALLEY ROAD. during the day, PANTHER FAN, TIMMY, and I did some extensive scouting ahead. the roads in this part of MAINE are interesting. There are paved roads from town to town, but most other roads are gravel or dirt, some in fairly bad shape. the maps don't effectively indicate which is which, so any trips can be interesting...
we ended up in STRATTON ME for the night. PETER PAN joined us...

SEPTEMBER 8, 1997 - MONDAY
CARIBOU VALLEY ROAD is virtually impassable. we were able to get the van in to the trail crossing, but hoped that rains did not come. anymore deterioration would strand us. we were lucky...
the SUNSHINE ad NTO were very happy to see us. we had told them that the possibility existed that we may not have been able to get to them. in that case, they would have to carry their backpacks for another day. they had prepared for this by carrying extra food. we stayed the night tenting at the road crossing. also staying there were SPARROWHAWK and FOXTROT...

SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 - TUESDAY
SUNSHINE, NTO, and TIMMY hiked out from CARIBOU VALLEY ROAD. the rest of us headed for STRATTON ME and secured a motel room. we later picked up the ladies at STRATTON BROOK POND ROAD, just north of ME 27...

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