Date: 2003-08-09
To: Pleasant Pond Lean To
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I woke early enough to watch the day begin. I simply walked to a clearing and watched the first light grow in strength. As the light grew the mountains began to take form yet still retained the night in their shadows. The low fog gently lifted and dissipated as the new day fully arrived.Paul produced a breakfast fit for a king. There were only four of us around the table but the quantity of food could have fed in the double digits. Homemade blueberry muffins that were so good that no butter was needed as each bite melted in your mouth. Hash browns, eggs, and French toast rounded out the meal.Breakfast was served at 7 a.m. so I took my time and I was still on the trail by 8:30. For the first time in a while I felt strong and the miles clicked by quickly. The trail had only a slight uphill grade which made it nice on this thick, murky day. The humidity had to be really high and even though I was not working that hard my shirt was drenched with sweat. For once I made sure I drank plenty of water.Mostly I walked through the thick forest once again only seeing the sunlight as I crossed old logging roads. I was able to rock hop across all the stream crossings but I have heard from the southbounders that this will not be the case in the near future. I made it into the Lean-to by early afternoon and kicked back on my Ridgecrest to nibble on a snack and read the shelter register. Five minutes later I see this very old, white haired lady strolling slowly down a side trail carrying a Tupperware container. When she made it to the shelter I said "hi" and she introduced herself as the cookie lady. She opened up that Tupperware and in nice little Ziploc baggies was a whole container of homemade peanut butter cookies. She put the cookies in a big Christmas tin sitting in the shelter and without much further conversation turned and proceeded back down the trail. It was like she enjoyed doing this without anyone knowing who she was other than a mysterious cookie lady. The cookies were still warm and soft. I swear I'm gaining weight here on the trail.There is a nice couple here who are nice and who are section hiking from Caratunk up to Monson. They have done short hikes and their goal in the next few years is to hike all of Maine. They asked plenty of questions about doing longer hikes but didn't know where to get info. I showed them the "Thru-Hikers Handbook" and the "Appalachian Trail Guide to Maine". They were really happy that this stuff was available and it was nice to pass on the small amount of trail knowledge that I have.The shelter is only .2 miles away from Pleasant Pond so I waited until dusk to go get water and take a quick skinny dip. I only have two pairs of shorts and I don't want to get either of them soaking wet. That is my excuse but in reality it just feels really alive to swim around in a crystal clear lake with no clothes on. Dinner was chicken flavored Lipton noodles with Tuna added. It was just not the same without the secret ingredient of Ritz crackers. Those Ritz will be second thing I buy when I get to Monson. The first thing will be white gas for my stove. I forgot to fill up in Caratunk and I'm really low. I can cook the noodles super quick but I hope I do not run out. Eating a cold dinner can kind of suck.Just after eating the winds shifted and the rain started. I've got the rainfly up and I'm all nice and cozy in the sleeping bag. I picked up a new book so I'm going to fall asleep reading the first couple of chapters.Seen in Maine:Moose 3Bear   1Chipmunks   4378Take care,Pasta & Crockett(Maine in 2003)