Date: 2015-07-24
From: Unnamed Gap at mile 1946.9

To: Hiker Hut - Rangeley, ME
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: broken clouds

It rained during the night but fortunately had stopped before I got up at 5. We set off at 6 and hiked to the Bemis Mountain Lean To. It was foggy so we couldn't see anything for the first hour or so. But as we got lower, visibility improved. We stopped for a snack and saw Moon and Gonzo. We headed on with the trail taking us over rocks and through brush twisting and turning like a maze. It was wet and I slid on a rock bending and landing on my knee in a way that didn't feel good. After a few seconds recovering from the initial shock, I got up and hiked it off. Seems to work best before anything stiffens. I didn't feel any pain so I think all is fine. We caught up to Gonzo who was with Smoke Signal and Naptime, two female hikers who were leaving the lean to just as we arrived. They are flip flopping and both had been in the peace corps In Madagascar where they had met. We all hiked together enjoying new conversation. We passed some trail workers fixing the trail. We made it down to the stream where we got water and sat down and talked. Finally we hiked the remaining mile to the ME17 road where Moon and Straps were. There was a hiking pole fencing duel between Gonzo and Straps as Wookie and I moved on stopping for a snack break around 1:15. The restarts were getting harder and harder and I realized we had stopped almost every hour since 9 am and it was 1:40 and I still had almost 12 miles to cover. I went into my zone and started hiking. I passed the Sabbath Day Pond, took a photo, and hiked past the lean to and kept going determined not to stop until I reached the campsite. Unfortunately in my surge, I lost Wookie. I had expected him to catch me as he usually does but I also covered the miles faster than expected. And it started to rain. Fortunately it didn't last long but everything was wet and muddy. So I didn't take any breaks. There were a lot of mud bogs on the trail. I reached the campsite a half hour sooner than expected. Since I didn't know how far back Wookie was, I kept going. I planned to stay at The Hiker Hut but Wookie planned to camp just before the road. I was expecting two packages at The Hiker Hut and eager for them both. Cookies and new shoes!! The holes in my shoes from the tough rocks were bigger and bigger and I was tired of debris in my shoes. I had heard some interesting things about the Hiker Hut from SOBOs ... No electricity, showers and you had to filter your own water. Most of them opted for amenities in town. However when I got there, it was beautiful! I rang the Bombay Bell signaling my arrival. Happy another NOBO was there. Steve came out and offered me a solar shower and dinner! Just what I needed. He let me have the private bunk which used to be his friend's Artisan Jewelry studio they built last year. He bought the place 4 years ago and built the bunk house and studio. He lives off the grid. His friend Diane was visiting and had brought a pesto. So they made me wheat pasta and quinoa with pesto, bread, almonds. I chatted with Diane while Steve took Happy to resupply. It rained also. Steve even warmed up water for my shower by the river. It was great!! Happy gave me an ice cream sandwich and I had blueberries and whip cream for dessert. I think Diane may have been a little surprised how much I ate! Steve uses the money from his hostel to help children with facial tumors in India. He goes every year in October. I stood by the pit fire for a few minutes and then settled in. It started raining again so I was happy to be dry. I was excited to get my new shoes as well as a care package from Jeanne and Michael with all sorts of goodies including Michael's delicious extra dark cookies and some dried chipotle and ancho chiles! Thank you thank you!!PS. I rarely have cell service in Maine so future updates will be batch processed whenever I have enough battery and service at the same time. So I am fine ... Just off the grid again!