July 16, 1996Day 8 - Beaubien Camp to Fish CampIt was 4:30 AM, and I was wide awake. So at 5 AM I went down to the shower house to finish the shower I didn't get done yesterday afternoon, due to the line of Scouts that were there. The rest of the crew got up at 5:30 AM, we ate breakfast, and were on the trail by 7 AM. We got to P.J. at 7:45 AM, got our last supply of food, and started down the trail to Fish Camp at 8:15 AM. AT 9:20 AM we were there! That was the shortest 4 miles that I've ever done. We were in a very pretty canyon, but hiking on a road the whole way. Fish Camp was built by Waite Phillips in the 1920's, and it was where he would take his friends to fish. It was a two day horse ride from the Villa Philmonte. We dropped our packs, and took the tour of the lodge. After lunch, we went to another building, and tied flies. It's interesting that there are electric lights in this building, but no power runs into the area. The lights are powered by a solar panel on the roof of the building, which charges a set of storage batteries. Very HI-TEC. Pat B. borrowed a fly rod, and tried to fish, but they weren't biting. The rest of us spent the afternoon reading, playing games, or laying in the sun. I traded one of the staff members at the lodge my paper back book, "Total Recall", for one named "Tourist Season". When we were packing for this trip, I had no idea that we'd have so much free time, so the book I'd brought just didn't last. After dinner (beef stroganoff, soup, and corn, all mixed together - real good!) John, Matt and I went and sat on the porch of the lodge - an area reserved just for advisors. We rocked in the chairs and talked. It was very pleasant and relaxing. The trip is over half done, and some people are starting to get on each other's nerves. but all in all things are going well. I think we'll make it to the end without a major problem. Tomorrow, a 9 mile hike into New Abreu, and a Mexican dinner.
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