Date: 2007-09-15
From: Caratunk, ME ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ US 201 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2022.8

To: Caratunk, ME ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ US 201 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2022.8
Miles today: 0.0

Day 164 ¢ 9/15/07Start: Caratunk, ME ¢ US 201 ¢ 2022.8End: Caratunk, ME ¢ US 201 ¢ 2022.8Day Miles: 0Okay, I know the start and end says I was in Caratunk but I really was in Monson last night and today for the Whiteblaze hiker feed. However, as far as the trail goes, I am in Caratunk. This is one of the odd things that happen when hikers gather for an event. Hikers ask other hikers; ¢Where are you?¢ and they really mean where are you on the trail before you jumped off to come to the event. There were only about a dozen people here last night but quite a crowd gathered throughout the day. I have seen Philmont, Side Show, Brisk, Moon Goat, Tony Tiger (he flipped), Kokopelli (back on to do a section with Tony), Buffalo Bobby, Plodder, Barking Spider, and many more. I spent the day doing errands, getting a 2 day resupply, pickup up and mailing stuff at the PO, and getting cash. I also did laundry and took a shower at Shaw¢s as well as leaving some stuff from my drop box there to pick up when I pass through on the trail. I pumped 12 a tube of JB Weld into my boots trying to keep them together to finish the trip. There are holes in the uppers and the soles have worn through to the plastic.I slept well last night but rain came through around 3:00 am. I stayed dry but I have a wet tent. There was a strong breeze and it dried only to have rain pass through again in the afternoon.Popeye called last night to tell me he found my red, white, and blue bandana. I was so psyched! Steve (the ferryman) is going to bring Popeye, Lightweight, Numbtoe, Shadow, RI Red, Suffering Bastard, and possibly other hikers up for the feed tonight. I am hoping to catch a ride back.Steve rolled in with everyone just before dinner and dark. He told me he was heading back tonight so I packed up my stuff. The tent is still damp so I have to set it up tomorrow to dry it out.The food at the Whiteblaze hiker feed was awesome. Rick and crew have out done themselves this year. I am really glad I took the zero day to come here. My knees are still sore from the fall and the trail weariness had really set in. You would think that you become a total hiking machine after 2,000 miles but you don¢t. It is like anything mechanical. After the break-in period there is a period of peak performance and then things start to wear. A hiker with 2,000 miles on their boots is like a car approaching 200,000 miles. Most of us feel the same way, a little worn down. But, as you talk to people they all know it is the end of something significant. North of Monson is the 100-Mile Wilderness and then Katahdin and the end of our journey. Some of us are ready for it to be over and some want this life to go on for ever. This is the point where some hikers slow down to savor the remaining days while others speed up to finish. I hear some people say they will take 10 days to do the Wilderness and then there is Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid who want to try and do it in only 4 days. I am thinking 5 or 6 days.We all rode back to Steve¢s and stayed in his bunkhouse for the night.