Date: 2015-09-24
From: Bemis Mountain Lean To

To: The Hiker Hut Hostel
Miles today: 17.7

We were going to be ambitious and shoot for the Hiker Hut about 18 miles ahead today and so we got up before light and were off at the break of dawn. Bemis Mountain was beautiful and the trail was good down to Bemis Stream.The sunrise was one of the most amazing that I've seen on the trail. The sun peeked under a narrow opening in the ceiling of clouds and painted the sky in a paradise of pastels. Next we took a breather to get our Moxie back at Moxie Pond. Unfortunately there wasn't a store nearby or we could have enjoyed a Moxie soda at Moxie lake! B "Ba-dum-ching!" - You know I had to go there! lOl!We took a break at the Sabbath Day Pond Lean-to as the timing was right and the name seemed so appropriate. IOI! The trail was so nice and easy that the miles were flying under our feet. We passed the two lady hikers from the night before who were looking pretty ragged and were dragging along. I had a feeling that they weren't long before getting of the trail. The trail will beat you down if you let it and if you don't have something that motivates and drives you to Katahdin all of the hardships along the way can drown out all that is good and beautiful along the trail. You have to really want to get to Katahdin and accept and embrace the truthful saying of "No Pain, No Raine, No Maine!" I had my motivational music on all day which helps so much and puts extra energy to my steps. I had an urgent call of nature and was about to look for a spot off trail when we arrived at the Little Swift River Pond campsite and right there on the trail was a privy! Whoo-hoo! The trail provides! (I use privys whenever possible and only had to use the woods about 4-5 times total!) I noticed that the privy had hardware mesh around the base of it and when I went in and sat upon the throne I looked at the walls to peruse the graffiti. On the door was a wooden sign with a bite mark carved into it with the request "Latch Door when leaving or porcupines will eat this building!" I made sure to latch the door with visions of a prickly horde of voracious porcupines devouring the building to the ground and using the splinters as toothpicks in satisfaction! Soon we were at the trailhead at ME 4 and there was a Woman who was looking for a female hiker who she though should have been there already. We told her that we had seen the hiker and her friend earlier that day, with her friend miles back and hours earlier. We then started walking the 3/4 of a mile or so to the Hiker Hut passing a pole with their sign on it in the parking lot. We were soon at the Hiker Hut hostel where we loudly rang the "BOMBAY BELL" and were warmly greeted. It was a beautiful, rustic set of cabins and tensites along a happy little steam. I made arrangements for a work for stay and started helping carry buckets of gravel from a pile with my good arm to spots where others were spreading it out on the driveway to fill in holes. Honey found out that there wasn't any electricity to charge up his devices and wanted to go to the hostel down the street. I declined as I didn't know if I could get work for stay there and didn't want to take the chance so I stayed. Honey got a shuttle from the owner and was off soon after. I helped for a couple of hours and then grabbed a solar shower bladder and went to the shielded area by the river and took a very warm shower which felt wonderful and then got dressed. I was given a ride to the laundromat and dropped off and told to call when I was ready. I asked for permission and plugged in my phone and iPod and found that the owner was a former thru-hiker. He kept clothing for hikers to wear while doing laundry so I changed out and started my laundry. When I had just thrown my stuff in the dryer the shuttle stopped by and whisked me off to the grocery store where I got a good weeks worth of supplies. I came out of the store to find Joker and the others destroying a half-gallon of ice cream whereupon I was given a spoon and told to help finish it up which, I did with gusto! It had been awhile since I had ice cream and it was wonderful trail magic! We then went back to the laundromat where I changed back into my clothing, put the rest away and picked up my devices. Dinner was ready when I returned and I was starved so I ended up not just eating seconds, but thirds also! There was a campfire pit and I helped to get a fire started. Some of the hikers had brought beer and with the permission of the owner we had a few, taking the time to be safe as well. It had been the first easy day in awhile and I was feeling good to have done a high mile day again. I got my groceries and pack put together before hopping on a bunk and turning in for the night.