Date: 2006-07-30
From: Bemis Mountain Lean-To

To: Sabbath Day Pond
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

Here I am at Sabbath Day Pond, on a Sunday, after the best single day of hiking so far this season.   The shelter was full last night with eight of us inside and upwards of ten others tenting outside. I slept next to Firebug, who set the fire but did not light it. Also in the shelter were a middle aged couple, he was a fan of crossword puzzles and she, as I discovered this morning, is diabetic. In addition there was Fool, and Grazer, who had also damaged a Leki hiking pole, and had had the replacement part shipped to him via UPS. Unfortunately the PO does not accept UPS parcels sent to General Delivery, so they refused to accept his arriving package. He now has had it shipped forward to Gorham, and spent much time berating the PO and UPS and Leki for their collective stupidity! Also there was Marta ¢ Five Leafed Clover ¢ who knows Jan LiteShoe, and treated the entire company to, not one, but two Mountain House Blueberry Cheesecakes! Her only request was that whoever finished them would have to pack out the empty containers. There was no lack of volunteers.   There was a very active game of FISH when the fire was ablaze, and I got a toasted marshmallow. Firebug and I were asleep early and awoke early also. I started off with the red pink of the dawning sun promising new hope to the world once again, on a fairly smooth walk along the mountain crest. It was great ¢ I was still up in the Alpine Zone with wonderful views 360 degrees all around me. I followed good blazes and cairns along the crest, dipping into stunted spruce and reemerging into bright sun and with a cooling breeze for company. It was just great!   Then it was a descent down off of Second Peak, and a much steeper descent from First Peak ¢ just love these names ¢ with the road visible far, far down below. The road was an old railway bed and I saw it just to cross it. Bemis Stream was no problem, as predicted by Firefly, despite Wingfoot¢s ominous warning ¢two channels of stream, watch blazes carefully¢   Two ladies were breaking camp close by, but either never heard, or never acknowledged my ¢Good Morning¢ A slow and steady ascent up Spruce Mountain on a nice trail with the sun dappling the ground. Everything was bright and warm ¢ but not humid ¢ and dry, with a secure grasp of warm dry rock on warm dry boot, I was soon at Moxie Pond.   From the summit of Second Peak this morning, as I gazed out over the Maine landscape, I was struck for the first time by the number of lakes and ponds. They were everywhere that I looked, and now I was meeting some of them in person.   Skirting Moxie Pond there was a small up to Bates Ledge ¢ a viewpoint [but through trees] of Long Pond. There two NOBO young ladies thru hiking passed me. They were two of the three hikers that had passed me at speed, and caused me to ponder on the learning experience, yesterday.   The trail then drops back down to Long Pond where there was a little sandy beach and the two girls taking a break. I spent some time with Overflow and Granite, but was not much tempted to swim in the leech-infested waters.   So now I am ensconced in Sabbath Day Pond Lean-To. Another of the skylight and veranda type that I like so much. I got water from the pond and have all of my gear drying in the warm afternoon sun. Very pleasant here.   Have been joined by Military Man SOBO section hiking, who says that he will tent out, but says also that he has friends coming to stay in the shelter.   Had Tompato Lunch - Feel Great - Wonderful weather ¢ Easy Hike ¢ Knees Good ¢ so I am rejoicing and being glad.   Thought for Today ¢    Every Day we have an opportunity to be Reborn!