Mitfahrgelegenheit

I thought I would name another post after a German word. There is a website in Germany where people offer rides to other people that they will take anyways. It's basically carpooling.com.

I needed to get to Berlin from Frankfurt so I got in touch with someone that was going there that night.

We agreed that he would come pick me up from my cousins house. The car was a brand new Audi A6, which is a ridiculously nice car. Upon seeing me he immediately says "I drive fast" then proceeds to tell me his own version of a "bin Laden" joke that most Europeans like to do upon seeing me.

I got in and we started bantering. He asked me what I do I replied that "I was currently unemployed" and proceeded to tell him about what I have done so far after quitting my job.

He mulls it over for a few seconds than looks over at me and says "I'm a capitalist. I think all people should work." I look over at him confused and keep quiet.

Later I ask him what he does, he proceeds to tell me how he is a sales man for Tillamore Dew whisky and a publicizer for a popular dance club in Berlin. I ask him what kind of music they play there, to which his reply was "everything...stuff like this" then he turns up his CD.

It was techno, that is all they play at their club, but I guess his idea of everything in music is techno.

I realize in this quick exchange that we are truly opposites. I prefer it quiet and slow, he prefers it loud and fast. I tell his "I think we are complete opposites" because I thought it would be funny. He looks over at me, says "I think so too" and turns up the techno music so that we can't talk.

Once we get on the Autobahn he proceeds to stomp on the accelerator and gets us to 160 miles per hour at every chance. I consider myself extremely calm but when you are going 160 mph while it's raining and there is a car in front of you that has stepped on the brakes you shit some bricks.

None the less that is how I speedily got to Berlin.

Sprained ankles to Katahdin

Shaw's Hostel in Monson, ME.

 

At Shaw's we got a package with sweet goodies from Raindancer

 The half-gallon ice cream challenge is traditionally done in Pennsylvania, but I postponed it until Maine. I got about a pint down before I gave up. Just not worth it.

 

 Here is Pink Floyd freezing from the inside after finishing half a gallon of ice cream in 29 minutes.

  

We started walking on roads to Katahdin, this is Kokajo, population 11.

The first view of Katahdin.

Handstand and I had a deal to hike the last mile in only underwear.

 This is me powering up without clothes on.

 On top of Katahdin.

 That night.

I got a ride from Pink Floyd's parents to Boston, here we found out just how hurt we were and how close of a bond we made.

In San Diego with my niece. My whole fam is here as well. Happy times.

Katahdin

3 days after arriving in Monson, MA Comedy Central was back together. I was preparing myself to say goodbye to my friends because I did not have enough time to go into the 100 Mile Wilderness. My plan was to go to Katahdin via a hitch or two and do it by myself so that I can catch my plane to San Diego.

The weather had a different idea of what I was to do; starting with Irene there had been so much water that had been dumped on Maine that some of the river fords were very dangerous. Because we didn't want to die Pink Floyd came up with a genius idea; a road walk.

We walked from Monson, Ma to Baxter State Park. I was pumped that we would be able to summit Katahdin together, but had no idea how rough a 66 mile road walk would be. At the end of 2 1/2 days we arrived with destroyed knees and feet. Turns out walking on hard pavement for a long time can hurt you pretty badly. At one point all four of us were on pain killers because that was the only way we could keep walking.

At Baxter Park we only had 10 miles to the bottom of the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail; Katahdin. It was exciting getting to shelter that night because tomorrow the adventure would come to an end.

We woke up to freezing temperatures the next morning, but there was a lady and her friend doing trail magic for Thru-Hikers so it got our spirits up. The climb was decently challenging, but after walking for months it was easily overcome.

Handstand and I decided that we should hike the last mile in our underwear even though the top of the mountain was freezing. The top was filled with emotions but I was so happy to be there.

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Everything about the trail has made me a better person.

Currently I'm in San Diego spending all of my niece's waking time with her. I will be here for the next 3 weeks and will put up pictures, videos and more post analysis of my adventure.

Stay tuned.

I mooned a Helicopter, he waved back.

Cankle @ 1000

I have a cankle, after a thousand miles on the trail.

Yes it has come to that.

About 4 days ago I got to the section of the trail that was easier than what I have started getting used to in the Whites. It was refreshing to be doing 2.5 to 3 miles per hour, I forgot what that felt like.

I was blasting, HARD.

And then I got blasted. I stepped on seemingly flat ground but felt a sharp pain in my ankle and dropped down to the side. I screamed in pain and instantly was afraid about the future of my hike. After being down for a minute in pain I felt my endorphins hit me and I felt bliss. I kept hiking for 4 miles to get into town.

In town I took off my shoe and checked, it was swollen but I decided to keep hiking.

Yesterday I did the exact same thing. My ankle hurt worse this time around so I hitched into town and have been here ever since.

It sucks to be holed up in a hostel not being able to hike. I'm OK, I'd just rather be hiking.

My plan right now is to stay here until Comedy Central arrives tomorrow night. We will drink and be merry. The next morning I will hitch to Katahdin, summit and somehow make my way to Boston. In Boston the first part of my journey ends, and a new part begins.

See you there.

Good ankle.

Cankle

2000 mark pictures

2000!!!

UFO

Pink Floyds Blasting Zone

Hotel Hiker EXXXXPLOSION

Cog on top of Mt. Washington (6288 ft). I hiked it, NO BIG DEAL!

People on the Rocks

Lakes of the Clouds and Mt. Washington...also my bust

Handstand Terminator BoKnows - Beautiful people

Bowling, Bro!

Oh the Joy of the Whites

Lafayette Yoga

Mount Lafayette with Pink Floyd and Handstand

Cold Times on tops of peaks

Lunch in a Firetower

Departures

Yesterday Raindancer, an intricate member of Comedy Central left for Portland, ME to catch a flight back home. Comedy Central misses her terribly but will have to keep moving towards Katahdin.

After a whole day thinking about it I have come to the conclusion that the biggest thing the trail has thought me is how to say goodbye. I have met wonderful people on the trail that have made me want to hug them after 10 minutes of talking to them. On the trail everybody has a different pace, some people do 10 miles a day every day, others do 25 miles a day every day, and even others do 30 miles every other day. These differences make it so that you hang out with some people for a day and you move on never to see them again, or you stay with the people you like and adjust your mileage accordingly.

Comedy Central was formed because we all liked each other. The first week that we all hung out I cried every single night from laughing too hard. It did not make sense for me to move on alone after finding such good chemistry. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to one member of the family, and at the end of this part of my trip I will have to say goodbye to the whole family. It will be terribly sad but life is like that, I have to move on. I will find friends again, and I will keep these friends for the rest of my life.

I'm not saying that goodbyes don't weigh less on my soul, I'm saying that they are easier because I learned that there is friendship material everywhere.

Irene

Irene is headed for me up here in Maine. I'm holed up in a hotel and will be fine.

No reception ATM. Will try to get back to everybody ASAP.

The Bugnet

Handstand did not have a tent or a hammock, he would sleep on the ground on a Tyvek sheet in a sleeping bag under a tarp. This worked great until the bugs would eat him alive in the middle of July. To save himself from the onslaught he had a bugnet.

The bugnet did not work. He would sometimes wake up with 10 mosquitoes in the bugnet. As you may expect he grew very upset at the bugnet and talked about burning it for weeks.

After Handstand recieved his hammock, we ceremonially burned the bugnet. These are the pictures:

The participants were Gumby, Icy Hot, Raindancer, Larb, Handstand, Jackrabbit and Pink Floyd.

Blogger friends

Day by day accounts of our days together. Also funny pictures.

Pink Floyd: http://rootmypc.net/at/

Beautiful pictures and a good cause.

Bo Knows and Terminator: http://www.hikeforcam.org/photos/

Pictures

COMEDY CENTRAL

Raindancer (Girl next door)

Pink Floyd (Dad)

Jackrabbit (Adopted brother)


Handstand (Creepy Uncle)

Larb (Brother)

Other pictures

Pre Pie


Post Pie


This is a part of the AT.


500 miles to Katahdin with Raindancer checking the Trail Magic


Best day ever


Top of a Fire Tower in Virginia


After a fun night


This picture describes the Vortex where we stayed.


NEW HAMPSHIRE


The cure for Giardia


Pink Floyd, Larb, Jackrabbit and Handstand with the phallic symbol in the background.


Crotch view, Raindancer is not looking. I carried a 1/2 lb clown with me for 2 days just to be creepy.


Handstand being a good father to his bag.


We stayed at Tom's house, the first question he asked was "Would you like some ice cream?"


Shopping list


Missed Connections


A normal day...


Train stop in the middle of nowhere.


Oldest tree on the AT.


Some heaven.


Animal Connections


The family that considered me Neo-human for doing the AT.


Food in NYC


NYC


The other end of I-84