Day 83 - Saturday, September 3

Linda

Since today was a day of rest, and I had no reason to get up early, I was wide awake and staring at the tent ceiling at 6:15. I was determined not to get up before 7:00 just on general principles. By 7:00 everyone else began stirring around, so I figured it was okay to get up. Breakfast had been planned for blueberry waffles, which on a camp stove can be an all morning affair, and almost was. Randy arrived around 8:30, but breakfast was still a ways off, so we had plenty of time to get started catching up. Except for a little bit of a scraggly beard, he looks like good old Randy. Now that I've seen him again, his mannerisms and general outlook on life remind me even more of Rick Reis, our Southbounder friend who is now on his 3^rd pack since Maine. Actually, I guess it would be more appropriate to say that Rick reminds me of Randy, since, being my brother, I've known him longer and he should get top billing. Whatever - they are a lot alike. We sat for a long time talking and waiting for Becky to perfect her style on the heart shaped waffle iron. It was a slow process, but the resulting blueberry waffles with pure maple syrup were superb! We managed to drag breakfast out until 11:00.

During the course of the morning, Ronald had taken his pack apart to tune it up, and discovered that the hip belt was starting to fall apart. So, all seven of us piled into Becky and Len's Cadillac (I guess that's one advantage to driving such a boat - it holds a lot of passengers) and drove into Salem to Appalachian Outfitters. Since Kelty has a lifetime warranty, they gave him a new belt, no questions asked. Had a chance to wander around the shop for a few minutes - one of my favorite things to do. Didn't really need anything else equipment wise - or at least anything we couldn't live without. As we drove back through Salem, we stopped to pick up a few groceries. Becky and I walked down to a dress shop and tried on clothes - another one of my new favorite pastimes whenever we're in civilization. Found some beautiful dresses, but for obvious reasons, will have to wait until getting home to buy anything that isn't trail gear. Made one more stop to look at a VW camper van like the one Tom and Marion were thinking about buying.

As we started back toward Peaks of Otter, the skies opened up and it started to pour. We outran the storm before getting back, and managed to get two more tarps set up for added protection before it got too wet. In a while we started on dinner of chicken, fresh green beans, potato salad and squash. We're getting spoiled with having all this fresh food readily available. After dinner we spent the evening chatting around the fire. By 9:30 Tom, Marion, Becky and Len said goodnight, but we weren't ready to turn in, so we tended the fire a bit longer and stayed up with Randy to do some more catching up on the last year.

Ron

I awoke around 7:00 this morning mostly out of habit. My metabolism had failed to catch up with my mind and slow down. I decided to put the time and quite to productive use and wrote on my log book. Unfortunately everyone started getting up too, so my log was put away until later.

Randy (Linda's brother) arrived around 8:30. My mom and Becky made blueberry waffles on the camp stove. We all sat around and had a feast. I wanted to take advantage to the lull in hiking and do some maintenance work on our equipment.

On preparing for the trail, we had purchased the best backpacks we could afford. Both Linda and I have Kelty packs and considering all of the abuse they have taken so far, they are in excellent condition. I heard reports that the back-band's tends wear out were the nylon meets the frame. As precaution, I had sewn leather patches on the back-band in that area before the hike. Earlier on the trail I also wrapped the aluminum frame with electrical tape to limit the damage. I took my pack apart and gave it a through inspection. Some of the nylon threads needed to be sealed from and old cut and one of the grommets was coming out of the back-band. I knew that the back band would never last for the rest of the trail. This gave us good excuse to go into Salem to Appalachian Outfitters. We all piled into the car and headed into town. At the store I got a new hip belt for no charge.

Later at a local shopping mall Linda spent an hour trying on different dresses. I could have easily spend a hundred dollars getting her new clothes. She was really looking good in all the clothes she never dreamed she could wear before. Back at camp that evening we all sat around the fire after supper and enjoyed the evening.