Day 37, Flexibility Required

August 20

382.5 down, 1803.4 to go

This morning we had breakfast with some other hikers and rode around town on bikes. Our mail drops hadn't come in yet and were supposed to be here by the end of the day. Luckily, Lincoln is one of the few towns that have a second entrance near the trail. It was too late in the day to do the 16 miles to the next entrance of Lincoln, but we had enough food to make it a two day trip and be back the next afternoon to pick up our package. We also ordered another Sawyer Squeeze filter with Amazon's two day shipping, so that will arrive Thursday. Not really much of an option there, the local outdoor store did not have it. So we will spend another night at Chet's in Lincoln on Wednesday and head out Thursday as soon as we get the filter...hopefully sooner than later. 

NotYet and I were talking on the trail today about how much flexibility and patience is needed on the trail. Just like in life, so many times we think things will go a certain way, but plans change and we really have no choice but to just go with the flow and deal with it. If we are there a while on Thursday, we might see Unitic again! He is planning on getting in to Lincoln Thursday, meaning he is just two days behind us. 

We hitched a ride back to Franconia Notch and were on the trail by 1:00. Another beautiful day -- we're really starting to get used to this nice weather streak! Quick lunch break at Lonesome Lake Hut, the last hut, and we were on our way up to North and South Kinsman Mountains. The view of Lafayette and the Franconia Ridge was beautiful! Franconia Ridge was our hike yesterday, one of our favorite views so far. It was cool to see it from farther away, realizing that we walked all across the top. We met Orange Peel and Sparky, a father/daughter NoBo couple. We chatted with them and got a secret white paper stashed in Sparky's wallet...a list of trail angel names and phone numbers in Hanover! They were waiting for the right SoBos to give it to. They started their hike with Karma in Georgia and since she is flip-flopping that means they will run into her very soon! How exciting! They warned us about a crowded campsite at Eliza Brook. Indeed, when we got there it was full of Yale students on an orientation trip (we also saw some yesterday on Franconia Ridge). I completely believe the outdoors are for everyone to enjoy, but it is slightly frustrating when you get done utilizing a full day of hiking and come into a campsite with enough daylight left to set up camp and eat...only to have the site full with 25 people from one group... We peaked in and there were no sites to be had so we passed the forest protection area and found a site to stay about a half mile away. We had enough time to put up the tent and make food before it got too dark. Again, with the flexibility thing! We are learning many valuable life lessons. NotYet should be getting school credit for this trip!

Tomorrow we will hike the remaining 7 miles in to Lincoln, via the Kinsman Notch entrance and enjoy our time in town...why not make the most of the unexpected?

Also, no sign of Floss. Is he ahead or behind? The bets are on. I'm betting we might run into him tomorrow in Lincoln.