Date: 2005-08-29
From: Antlers Campsite

To: White House Landing
Miles today: 5.9

Antlers Campsite to White House Landing Wilderness CampAfter a restless night of sleep last night, I woke up a bit irritable this morning. There was a gaggle of chipmunks and squirrels scampering around the tent, in the bushes and trees making all sorts of racket. It sounded like they were throwing pine cones down from way high up, trying to torpedo the tent. Thought I love the sound, loon cries through out the night startled me awake. So even though we were snuggled down for sleep nice and early, it was still a seemingly sleepless night. You think that you just have to worry about a big group of campers coming in and keeping you up with their noise, and it turns out that the chipmunks and squirrels are the enemies of sleep. Little furry rodents...After a visit to the privy named "Fort Relief" we were on our way. The time to Potaywadja Spring Lean-to went fast. When we stepped into the Lean-to for a break we were astounded to see Method Man. He was with Sowega, but sans Rza. The last time we saw Method Man and Rza was night before Harper's Ferry, at Bear's Den. We'd thought they'd long gotten off the trail so it was a delight to see at least half of the duo. We were sad to hear the Rza was waylaid from his hike due to a tick bourne illness.Not long after we'd gotten to the lean-to, it began to sprinkle. Then it turned to a full out rain. We hung around and stalled for a while, but since we only had 2.5 miles to White House Landing, we decided to face the rain. There is supposed to be a view of Katahdin from Pemedumcook Lake, which I'm sure is beautiful. Unfortunately it was all socked in, so we couldn't see anything.On we went in the rain, carefully counting the dirt road crossings and watching our time so as not to miss the turn off to W.H.L. We found it without a problem and thought that the trail was actually quite well marked. We followed MarHar Tote Road (really just a grassy, muddy open swath through the forest) to the actual blue-blazed trail leading to the boat dock. We got wetter pushing through the saturated bushes as we followed along the path than we had so far in the rain, but we were heading some place dry at least.The mile trail to the boat dock seemed to take forever, but it was really only fifteen minutes before we saw the dock and sign instructing visitors to summon the boat to fetch you across the lake to the camp. We waited a few minutes there in the rain, then saw Bill coming towards us across the water. We loaded up into the smallish aluminum power boat and buzzed us across towards hot food, showers and a dry afternoon out of the weather.We're staying in the lake shore cabin, right, as the name alludes, on the shore of the lake. It's all fog and rain outside. Supposed to be like this for the next few days. No other hikers here, or anyone else for that matter. Pretty quiet with just the two if us.Gravity washed our hiking clothes in the wash board and hand ringer outside. That was a sight to see! No electricity or running water here, so that was the only option for laundry. I owe him one for that though!Listening to the lake lapping against the shore, breeze through the trees and rain pitter-pattering down. I'm happy to be warm and cozy at this rustic wilderness camp. Sad though that it looks as though our last few days might be a slog. Hopefully we'll at least have a nice day for Katahdin...Danger