Date: 2009-09-17
From: Jerome Brook- Campsite

To: Caratunk, ME
Miles today: 17.4

I do not even know where to begin...this could be a long journal entry to describe a very long and eventful day. Bark described the wounds on his legs in a previous entry, yesterday's maybe. This morning we woke up early to a very cold morning. It was around 6:00am or so and the first thing we did was check to see if his legs looked any better. The swelling was still pretty obvious, but the redness had not gotten any worse so we were both hopeful that healing had begun. We started the day as normal- a quick serving of pop tarts and then we packed up all of our stuff and headed out to the trail. To our great fortune the trail was great this morning. It ran pretty flat for most of the morning- rocky and rooty, but no thousand foot climbs! After about an hour and a half of hiking the trail opened up to West Carry Pond. The clouds were still lifting off the water which made for beautiful scenery. Unfortunately, no moose sighting, but we were still motivated to take pictures of the still water and rocks. We continued to hike and we had to hike quick today due to the Kennebec River crossing. By the end of the day (4 o'clock) we needed to be in the ferry canoe to cross over the river. Fording is not recomended due to the dangerous water currents and water release upstream at various times of the day. With Bark's swollen (and increasingly swelling) leg/ankle we were getting more and more convinced that we needed to get to town to get his leg checked out. The road crossing into Caratunk, ME was after the Kennebec River crossing. So, off we went!Bark was becoming more uncomfortable as the day and miles went on. After lunch, around noon, we still had around 6+ miles to go. No time for a leisurely stop so we combatted the roots and rocks a bit more. According to our elevation profile the trail should have run flat all the way to the river crossing and then a slight downhill. Well, turns out it was very incorrect. The trail made constant twists and turns with steep inclines and declines. We maneuvered up and over rocks and uprooted trees, along the bank of some white water and then up into the tree lines again. I was so proud of Bark for keeping a positive attitude with what could have been a very frustrating hike. I knew his legs were hurting, but we both knew the time crunch we faced. Finally we made it up and over our last p.u.d. and saw the "warning" sign for the Kennebec River crossing; the time- 3:18pm. The procedure is this: you wave a hand held bright orange flag which signals to the canoe manager that you need to cross. Sure enough we got a wave from the other side of the bank and waited for our river guide's arrival. It was definitely a highlight of the day and possibly the whole hike. We strapped on our life preservers and hopped into the boat. Bark was pretty excited to sit in the bow and help paddle. Our canoe driver was so friendly and had a lot of information for us about town and medical facilities in the area. Once we were on solid ground again we kept walking the very short distance to US 201 road crossing into Caratunk, ME. Our canoe driver was quick to tell us there would be no cell service in the area, but the post office in Caratunk had a courtesy phone on the front porch. It was about a half mile or so down to the post office. We made it just as they were getting ready to close at 3:45. Even though the windows were closed inside, the postal worker came out to greet us on the porch and see if we needed any help. We went on to explain our situation and that we needed medical services. She told us the closest hospital around was about 40 miles away- yikes! As of last Sunday we had acquired one contact in Maine, "Stickman" was our only hope...I think we mentioned Stickman previously, but here is a quick reminder. Stickman was a Southbounder hiker in 2007 and has been involved in trail magic and angeling ever since. This year he has kept up with our journal and while shuttling our friend Duckman into Stratton, got our phone number to let us know he was in the area. Bark contacted him and we were all looking forward to meeting up somewhere around the Pleasant Pond area, right after Caratunk. That is how Stickman became our "one phone call".Using our calling card we were able to retrieve his phone number from our voicemails and give him a call. Luckily he answered and in no time said he would be there soon to take us into the hospital- incredible! Bark and I were so thankful and ready to just hang out for a bit on the porch of the post office, until the postal worker came back out. She asked if it all worked out and we filled her in on Stickman's hospitality. Come to find out, she knows a little about Stickman and his walking stick business- she is a recipient of one of his creations/carvings. The next thing we knew Marie Beane (postal worker) and her daughter Carrie invited us to their home to clean up a little before heading to the hospital. She offered us hot showers, a chance to do laundry and even clean comfy clothes to wear while our things were washing. Marie shared with us how she really enjoys seeing the hikers come in to the post office because she has been able to meet people from all over the world who are all so different. While we were waiting and watching for Stickman to arrive across the street at the P.O., Marie and her daughter Carrie made Bark and I the most wonderful omlets. They were filled with fresh squash, onions, mushrooms and garlic. Along with our gourmet omelets we had toast and a glass of orange juice- she really knows hikers! It was such a treat to meet Dan (Marie's husband), Marie and her daughter today. If you would have told us this morning that we would be sitting in somebody's dining room eating dinner tonight, we would have laughed at you! Just as we were finishing up our meal Stickman pulled up across the street. Marie went out to greet him and she finally had a chance to meet the maker of her surprise walking/hiking stick. Bark and I wrapped up our meal and headed out with Stickman. He drove us through a beautiful section of road which actually looked out at the Bigelows and Sugarloaf Mtn- sunset was beautiful. Once at the hospital Bark got all registered while Stickman and I sat in the waiting room. On the ride there, he told us that his wife Cari works in admissions and we would get to meet her as well. She was soon sitting with us in the waiting room. In the midst of such bizarre circumstances, it was such a fun treat to meet Mrs. Stickman- so warm and friendly.Well, Bark joined the 3 of us again out in the waiting room and told of us of his possible diagnosis- MRSA- a resistant form of staph. Again, this is a possible diagnosis, no test results for another 48 hrs or so. Either way the doctors were very helpful and gave him 2 prescriptions and some ordered bed rest, locally just in case the infection and his 101 degree fever did not heal. It was close to 9 o'clock by this time and all of us were getting tired. We left the hospital and Stickman drove us to a local motel where we could get some rest and start Bark's healing process. It has been quite a day! Even though Bark's infection could have really gotten him/us down and discouraged, we have been more encouraged and uplifted by the hospitality and kindness of others. God is faithful in caring for His children and we are resting in that truth tonight. Even from before we saw any signs of infection, the Lord was working out His plans. Duckman met Stickman while doing some trail angeling, got our phone number, gave us a call and well... the rest is history now.