July 27, 1999 - Kent, CT

Hello,

Greetings from Kent Conn.

AT miles to Kent     1444.4
total trail miles    2160.7

state # 10
total # of states 14

Last days off - Delaware Water Gap     mileage 1270

Whats in this report

     Lyme Disease
     Hot
     Getting Close to the End
          7-8 weeks maybe
          100 mile wilderness
          Getting Back Home

Lyme Disease
     I got my first vaccine shot in Harpers Ferry WV. The second of        
the three shots was due this week.

     I was feeling poorly in Pine Grove Pa. I had alternating fever        
and chills, but after holing up in a motel for two days I felt better 
and went out on the trail again.

     By Delaware Water Gap I had recurring headaches and a slight          
fever and splotches which seemed to be growing bigger on my upper legs. 
The Doctor said it was stage two of the Lyme disease and gave me a 30 
day prescription of anti-biotics (sp?). After a couple of days almost 
all of the symptoms had gone away.


     Today I tried to get my second shot of the vaccine, but the nurse      
at the local doctor called the company and they said that I shouldn't 
get the shot until the full 30 days of anti-biotics had been taken.

The Heat
     The heat has been giving me a lot of problems, especially when      
combined with high humidity. The sweat collects in the small of my back 
and runs down onto my hiking shorts soaking them completely on the 
worst days.

     I am combating the heat by:
          trying to start earlier.
          taking more frequent breaks
          stopping at road crossing and getting a soda or food.

      It is hard to sleep at night, since the night time temperatures       
are in the high 60's and low 70's. You start out the evening by laying 
on your thermalrest with the rain fly off, and by the early morning 
hours you have to cover up quilt style with the sleeping bag.

     They keep saying that relief is always the next day, but it never      
seems to last more than a day or so and then the heat comes back.

The Rocks

     People have talked about the rocks of Pennsylvania for most of the 
trail. The last 3 days of Pennsylvania were the worst. The rocks seemed 
continuous, and there seemed to be know flat spots to put your boots 
down on.

Getting Close to the End

     Maine is only about 716 miles away. That is about 7-9 weeks of      
hiking. It includes the 100 mile wilderness which only has a minimum 
chance of resupply at the half way point. The resupply comes about when 
you pay someone $50 to deliver some supplies 50 miles up the trail. It 
helps if you can get 5 people or so to share the expense.

     The miles break down
          Conn- Mass    140 miles
          Vermont - NH  307 miles
          Maine         281 miles

     Getting back home.

          I have been thinking about this for about a month. the three       
     possibilities are:

                 Use the plane ticket I have. There would be some sort       
            of rescheduling charge since the chosen date was                 
  about 15 oct


                 Renting a car and driving back to Seattle. This would       
            allow me to see my mother in law, my mother, my family           
        and friends in Colorado.

                 taking the bus through the above named cities and
                 relatives.

Well, Time is running out here in the public library in Kent Conn. I hope 
that this message finds all of you in good health and spirits. I am sorry 
that I couldn't reply to all of the messages that I have been receiving.

So long for now.

"Mike on the AT"
"No Rain No Pain No Maine"

http://www.engel.org/ihwm  (Courtesy of my friend Glenn Engel)

email  --- mike_aken@hotmail.com

"I hike alone sometimes.Its during these            Mike Aken
solo hikes that the number of  arrogant             N7OUJ
and ignorant people I have  to deal
with is reduced to one."
                         Jack Hampson

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