We are now into a daily routine, and on the trail by 8.30am. We make good time and stop for lunch at Betty Gap, where we meet a whole new group of hikers that we have not seen before.
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| Miles of Miracles | | | | | | |
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There is an old guy with a big white beard who looks about 75-80 years old, who has been on the trail a month and taking it slowly. His trail name is MOM - Miles of Miracles - he said every mile is a miracle. He was walking about 5 miles a day and following him up in trailjournals.com he walked 1589 miles on the AT, and stopped in Massachusetts on Oct 10, planning to complete in 2011.
Most of the other hikers we meet are younger than us, with a few in their 60s. One hiker, a single older woman, Jannie, from Texas, walked with us for that afternoon, and we see her again in Franklin, the next town. As I write this retro piece I wonder what happened to her. Some research reveals that she has posted to our guestbook on trailjournals.com:
'I am so happy you all made it to Maine. I enjoyed reading your journal and meeting you all on the trail.Thanks for showing the way through the creek bed.I got sick in the smokies and had to drop out.'
We climb Mt Albert and have a great views over the landscape from the observation tower.
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| Fire tower on the summit of Mt Albert |
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| View from Mt Albert |
We arrive early at the Big Spring Shelter and camp on the hill above the shelter. A large group of hikers arrive in the late afternoon, relax and cook dinner, then depart to walk through the night so they can catch the early shuttle into Franklin, tomorrow. Digby and I are amazed at their energy - we are fast asleep when they depart.
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