You and me, we're bombarded these days with pleas from a wide variety of sources hoping for a little bit of our money. We all have our favorite charities and causes that we contribute to, and since budgets are tight (I mean c'mon, whose isn't?) there's only so much cash available to be doled out.

That said, I'm a big believer that many hands make light work. Same with giving. Like you, I don't have $100 to give to every group I'd like to. But I do have $5 and $10 and $20 to give here and there. And when that level of giving is spread across many wallets, well, that's when things start to happen and funds get raised. It's the power in numbers thing.

What's all this about, you say?

It's about a couple of causes near and dear to my heart, and likely yours. Two specifically that we've talked about here at Trail Head: Portland Trails and the Cohos Trail. They are worthy of a bit a of a reminder if you will.

Portland Trails

You'll remember that some unctuous cretin(s) made off with Portland Trails' expensive and preicous brushcutter last month.

Not a nice move you &*%^$#@!!!

Well, I got a nice letter from Nan Cumming, Executive Director of PT, late last week informing me that they had raised $400 toward a new machine.

Woo-hoo! That's great news.

But a new brushcutter costs upwards of $2000, so while the $400 makes a big dent in the price tag, it leaves them shy of what they need.

So I'm taking it upon myself here to ask you all to match me each another $5 or so (more if you can do it) to further help Portland Trails.

Whaddaya say?

Good, I figured I could count on you.

Send whatever you can to:

Portland Trails
"New Brushcutter"
305 Commercial Street
Portland, Maine 04101

Thanks!

The Cohos Trail

In late July and early August I was fortunate enough to be able to thru-hike New England's newest long distance hiking route, the Cohos Trail, from Notchland to Canada through the wild and remote north country of Coos County, New Hampshire.

It's a tremendous walk, one that I highly recommend if you've got a couple of weeks to spare, and seeing as it's just next door the logistics aren't all that daunting either.

In any case, this was a hike with a purpose. Huddling with the good folks from The Cohos Trail Association, we concocted a plan to make the hike into a fundraiser to raise some sorely needed cash for this outstanding trail that is part boots-on-the-ground pathway and part vision-of-what-can-and-will-be.

Well, with the CTA folks working furiously behind the scnes and me out there walking through the hills and mountains, together we raised some big time awareness of this tremendous recreational resource, with the locals of Coos County, with folks downstate in NH, and throughout New England.

All good. More people should know about the Cohos Trail, and then go check out its outstanding beauty for themselves.

In addition, TCTA stewards and trail big-wigs Pete and Lainie Castine tell me that nearly $2,000 was raised by the thru-hike campaign.

Not bad at all. Thanks to many of you for helping out.

Again, however, more $$$ is needed to move the CT effort forward, to spark a quantum leap if you will.

So I ask once more if you can let go with a touch more of your beer money, $5 or $10 or more, and give the CT folks another charge of greenbacks. If a few hundred us do it just imagine the difference we can make!

Send your Lincolns to:

The Cohos Trail Association
c/o Pete & Lainie Castine
266 Danforth Road
Pittsburg, NH 03592

Many thanks in advance. Trail Headers rock!