Wow! Well it feels like a lot has happened since the last time I wrote, but I think that is more the result of me waiting so long as I haven't been overly busy. Something really pretty exciting did happen a little over a week ago. It was a pretty new experience for me: I got a pay check. Yep, that's right. My first ever paycheck for doing physical therapy. It is a crazy concept getting paid to do it. I'm sure all my classmates and anyone else who has done unpaid internships can relate. I sat at home almost all day anxiously awaiting its arrival (partially because of its significance and partially because I really just needed the money). The mailman, bless his/her heart, decided not to deliver my mail until about 4:00 pm that day so by that time I had already wen to work and made some phone calls. Luckily, people already know me and know that I'm not always that high-strung.
The last weekend of August, Kim, Sarah, and I woke up bright and early to drive .jpg)
about 3.5 hours to Baxter State Park (which we somehow got into for free) to climb Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine. We had wanted to climb the Knife's Edge trail but it was too late and the less-than-pleasant ranger ladies at the visitor station in Millinocket (that's not even close to the craziest name upstate) highly advised against climbing that route due to potentially inclement weather conditions. So we picked a different route and headed into the park. As we started hiking up were 
baffled by how quickly the sweat started. Granted we were walking up a steep incline and at a fast pace (we're pretty much hiking all-stars considering how many people we passed) , but apparently it was almost about the most humid day ever experienced in Maine. At least the worst I'd experienced. Eventually that didn't matter because the higher we got up, the winder it got. The trail changed from a slightly rocky trail through the woods into a huge bolder field where you had to climb over all these giant rocks and ledges. It was awesome, except for the part where I lost my sunglasses, which were totally unnecessary on this trip. Thankfully they were a cheap pair that were on the.jpg)
verge of breaking, but I did buy them in Vegas so they had some memories tied to them. What was even worse is that I could still seem them, but they were out of arm's and leg's (yes, I thought about using my legs and toes) reach. The farther we went up the mountain, the cloudier it became until we were actually right in the cloud, which is pretty wet and still windy. The view at that point became much less impressive .jpg)
as we couldn't see much past 10 yards away. As we neared the top, the wind picked up quite a bit, and we contemplated turning back. However, we were only a mile from the summit and someone told us the wind settled down a little when you got a little higher up. So we pushed on and eventually summitted the highest point in Maine and simultaneously reached the "Terminus of .jpg)
the Appalachian Trail". There we met some people who hiked the Knife's Edge partially on their hands and knees. We also met Max, a Cornell student from Pennsylvania, who is taking a semester off to hike part of the A-Trail. He hiked back down with us, which was probably a good idea for him not to go back down alone due to the slight slipperiness of the rocks. We all made it down safely and then drove home in wet pants.
.jpg)
about 3.5 hours to Baxter State Park (which we somehow got into for free) to climb Mount Katahdin, the highest point in Maine. We had wanted to climb the Knife's Edge trail but it was too late and the less-than-pleasant ranger ladies at the visitor station in Millinocket (that's not even close to the craziest name upstate) highly advised against climbing that route due to potentially inclement weather conditions. So we picked a different route and headed into the park. As we started hiking up were 
baffled by how quickly the sweat started. Granted we were walking up a steep incline and at a fast pace (we're pretty much hiking all-stars considering how many people we passed) , but apparently it was almost about the most humid day ever experienced in Maine. At least the worst I'd experienced. Eventually that didn't matter because the higher we got up, the winder it got. The trail changed from a slightly rocky trail through the woods into a huge bolder field where you had to climb over all these giant rocks and ledges. It was awesome, except for the part where I lost my sunglasses, which were totally unnecessary on this trip. Thankfully they were a cheap pair that were on the.jpg)
verge of breaking, but I did buy them in Vegas so they had some memories tied to them. What was even worse is that I could still seem them, but they were out of arm's and leg's (yes, I thought about using my legs and toes) reach. The farther we went up the mountain, the cloudier it became until we were actually right in the cloud, which is pretty wet and still windy. The view at that point became much less impressive .jpg)
as we couldn't see much past 10 yards away. As we neared the top, the wind picked up quite a bit, and we contemplated turning back. However, we were only a mile from the summit and someone told us the wind settled down a little when you got a little higher up. So we pushed on and eventually summitted the highest point in Maine and simultaneously reached the "Terminus of .jpg)
the Appalachian Trail". There we met some people who hiked the Knife's Edge partially on their hands and knees. We also met Max, a Cornell student from Pennsylvania, who is taking a semester off to hike part of the A-Trail. He hiked back down with us, which was probably a good idea for him not to go back down alone due to the slight slipperiness of the rocks. We all made it down safely and then drove home in wet pants. The weather for Labor Day weekend was nothing short of phenomenal. You seriously
could not have asked for nicer weather. It was warm, but not too warm, with a nice breeze. On Saturday, I headed up to the Camden area again to hike Mount Megunticook. I found a trail that sounded fun online so I decided to try it and was not disappointed. It took me to Maiden's Cliff which is a cliff (obviously) that overlooks Lake Megunticook. It is also the site where 12-year-old Elenora French fell to her death on May 7, 1864, while trying to catch her windblown hat- hence the large white cross. The view is spectacular. From their I continued on through thick woods with sporadic views of the lake or the ocean. The summit of Megunticook is less than exciting. All it has is a sign stating the elevation, 
but as it is still below the tree line, you can't see much from the summit. However, I shortly thereafter arrived at Ocean Lookout, which provides stunning views of Camden village, Penobscot Bay, and Mount Battie (which Greta and I visited my very first ever weekend in Maine). I sat here, enjoyed the view and a snack before heading down the last leg of my hike. The lamest part of the trip was the mile hike back to my car along the road. I had met some rock climbers before I started hiking so I tried to find where they were climbing but was unsuccessful, unfortunately because after talking to them I had an itch to get back into it again. I then took a quick dip in Lake Megunticook before heading home. It was a quick dip too as the wind picked up as soon as I got there, and the water wasn't all that clean. Not to mention the sketchy looking ducks that were hanging along the shore. But man was it refreshing. I think it may be all the "swimming" I have done this summer. I haven't made it into the ocean yet. I might be running out of days to do that. It might have to wait until next year.
could not have asked for nicer weather. It was warm, but not too warm, with a nice breeze. On Saturday, I headed up to the Camden area again to hike Mount Megunticook. I found a trail that sounded fun online so I decided to try it and was not disappointed. It took me to Maiden's Cliff which is a cliff (obviously) that overlooks Lake Megunticook. It is also the site where 12-year-old Elenora French fell to her death on May 7, 1864, while trying to catch her windblown hat- hence the large white cross. The view is spectacular. From their I continued on through thick woods with sporadic views of the lake or the ocean. The summit of Megunticook is less than exciting. All it has is a sign stating the elevation, 
but as it is still below the tree line, you can't see much from the summit. However, I shortly thereafter arrived at Ocean Lookout, which provides stunning views of Camden village, Penobscot Bay, and Mount Battie (which Greta and I visited my very first ever weekend in Maine). I sat here, enjoyed the view and a snack before heading down the last leg of my hike. The lamest part of the trip was the mile hike back to my car along the road. I had met some rock climbers before I started hiking so I tried to find where they were climbing but was unsuccessful, unfortunately because after talking to them I had an itch to get back into it again. I then took a quick dip in Lake Megunticook before heading home. It was a quick dip too as the wind picked up as soon as I got there, and the water wasn't all that clean. Not to mention the sketchy looking ducks that were hanging along the shore. But man was it refreshing. I think it may be all the "swimming" I have done this summer. I haven't made it into the ocean yet. I might be running out of days to do that. It might have to wait until next year. The rest of my time has been spent with friends. Tennis has become a common occurrence in my life. Rob, Nate and I have played a lot over the past few weeks. Today, we were able to sucker a fourth person into playing so that we could play doubles or two singles games. Last night, I hosted Texas Hold'em night. I took 3rd place so I didn't win any money or even break even, but it was still fun. Sarah, Rob and I helped Leah celebrate her birthday. I tried to even let her win in Scrabble, but Sarah and Rob weren't as giving that way as I was. I still don't have a TV, well one that gets any channels anyway. This rarely concerns me, but I'm slightly worried about my absolute lack of knowledge of the news. I mean, who knew they were having forest fires in Montana and that a mine caved in Utah (right? Utah?). Farmer's Markets have continued to be a source of pleasure for me. Not only in attending, but also in the crazy good food I am able to make. Mmmmmm... corn-on-the-cob. And who knew Eggplant could be so tasty when not with Parmesan. I for one didn't have a clue, but they look cool enough to entice me. In other news, Pomegranates are in season and my health insurance has kicked in. Now I can go to the dentist before all my teeth rot out.
Finally, I just received some VERY exciting news via e-mail. My friends Josh and Amy are planning a trip to New England and are going to be arriving next weekend. September is going to be awesome! Well, best get to bed so I can be on top of my game tomorrow after a 4 day weekend.
1 comment:
I think this "Rob" guy sounds awesome!
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