Day 26 - Going to Andover

Started out from Bemis Mtn Lean-to. Decided to pull off the trail into Andover today to resupply and wash/dry clothes.

Saw a wild turkey (?), I think. Hard to see in the photo I took (second photo). It is at the end of the fallen down log. Plus a picture of a frog.

Met the following hikers along the way:

Lady Slipper - Trail name is an orchid that only flowers under certain conditions, you have to be lucky to see it. Nobo flip-flop per, so I might run into her later. Immediately picked me as Australian after I'd said like 3 words.

Bear Chaser and Nimble Foot - Older couple. Nobos. They had seen a moose just half an hour before I'd met them! I kept my eyes peeled but I didn't see it! Talked about a lot of things, they said I was practically guaranteed to see bears in New Jersey. They said they had seen a lot.

Summited Old Blue Mountain. Not much to see from there. Path up was often blocked by fallen trees and the path down is very steep and wet. 3/10 mountain.

The comments on the hiking app for Old Blue Mountain are hilarious:

- this whole mountain literally sucks and I hate it
- NOBOs, this is the least technical big climb you've had in weeks. Smooth sailing. Fuck the haters.
- Ol Goofy Gooferton, that's what I'm going to call this mountain.
- Whoever says this climb nobo is easier than Mt. Moody is on drugs, this is 4 times as hard
- Pretty sure this mountain inspired the person who invented the stairmaster.

Made some arrangements to be shuttled and stay in Andover. Didn't really rain, was disappointed as I'd anticipated being drenched and then going into town for a hot shower and wash/dried clothes.

I had a Rodeo burger for dinner. There was confusion over what chips are. They said the burger comes with chips but I can pay extra to have fries. I said chips and received a 50 gram packet of Lays potato crisps. I mean, those are chips too but not the sort of chips I expect when you are ordering a burger and chips. Oh well, the things you learn. Had pizza the next day, it was underwhelming.

Bonus photo of how gross my toenails have become.Read more