Date: 2016-08-05
From: Stealth Site Before Bemis Stream Trail Sign - Mile

To: Little Swift River Campsite - Mile 1,963.9
Miles today: 17.2
Weather: broken clouds

Changes came early today and, for one hiker, not early enough.Since we were stealth camping last night, we weren't sure about our actual location until I reported seeing a sign while getting water. Oops, this morning I noticed the sign included a "1.5 miles away" notation. So when I get internet access I'll reduce yesterday's mileage entry. What did that mean? Add an extra 1.5 to today's desired ending location. Subman jokingly said it deflated him. And I responded that you can't lose something you never had. So off we went. It was a bit deflating. We had a lot of miles to hike today and we just couldn't get into gear. The climbs weren't really steep or long but I was really struggling with the first climb. It was hot today so that may have contributed to our lack of pace and rhythm.We kept on plugging away. That's really all we can do. Guess Subman was full of the quotes today. This one was his "The AT won't hike itself." Suds led the way while Subman took a bathroom break. I heard Suds speak with Stripe. Now that wasn't expected today. Stripe stopped at last night's camping site and talked with us for a while - real nice guy that I met a few weeks ago. Last night Stripe left us with the intention of hiking another 5 miles to the next shelter (Maine calls shelters "Lean-tos" if anyone wants to be precise). Apparently Stripe did hike to that shelter. Then he woke up this morning, used the privy there on the way out, and started hiking south - unintentionally. Stripe said he'd been hiking hard for the last 1.5 hours. He took it in stride and turned around, leap-frogging us throughout the day.Bemis Mountain brought us grief but then brought us lots of wild blueberries. Bigger than we've seen before. Very tasty. Yes, we had a long day of hiking ahead of us but we took several stops on the summit and as we descended to enjoy these treats. Water wasn't readily available today. A spring where we hoped to get water was dry. We asked and heard from southbound hikers that the Bemis Lean-to was dry too. A liter of water weighs 2.2 pounds. I'm an odd one who carries 2 liters at the start of each day. There's a saying that "you carry your fears". I don't want to run out of water. It continued to be hot. There were no cooling breezes today. We ate lunch at Bemis Stream. The AWOL Guide indicates it has to be forded - not today, but at least it had water so we all drank our fill around noon. I went out first after lunch but everyone quickly passed me. It was just that kind of day. Subman got some energy from the lunch break   and there was a good distance between everyone else and me for awhile. That distance of separation ended with Suds yelling out where they were - in Sabbath Day Pond. It has a sandy beach that is just a couple feet deep out 100 yards. Stripe was up to his neck in it, sitting on his butt. The rest of us waded in too. It was very refreshing. Consideration was given to staying at the lean-to that was just 3/10ths of a mile away but that would've reduced our town time tomorrow and we all are looking forward to the customary eating, hydrating, and resting frenzy. So we hiked on. Tired. We reached our destination a little before 5:00. We're on a pond (Maine calls them ponds; many of us refer to them as lakes). We're glad we're here. It's less than 5 miles to the road where we can be picked up as part of the fee for staying at tomorrow's lodging location. One week ago today I was riding waves in the Atlantic Ocean with family and loved ones. Today I waded in a pond. Lucky to be able to experience both and to tuck them away to be remembered in the coming years. There are 3 canoes near tonight's water source near the Little Swift River Pond. One canoe has a gash in it while the other two appear to have been patched. There's an oar and a couple partial life vests. Stripe is heading out on the pond in one of them. He said "What can go wrong today?" Stripe just let me know he got a reservation for a bunk where Subman & Suds are staying. I think Old Fox, Hooshr, and Forrest intend to stay there too. It reminds me of our gathering at Woodchuck's Hostel in Damascus on Good Friday. Beth is coming too. It's nice that some things don't change.