Date: 2004-06-02
From: Four Pines Hostel

To: Pig Farm Campsite
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

I have no idea why this is called Pig Farm Campsite. Perhaps if I go peer over the edge I'll see a pig farm. Regardless, I've got a lovely site tucked in between some trees and I'm watching the sunset. We aren't actually in the designated sites because there are tons of dead fir trees (damage from fungus or insect - I forget which) waiting for a gust of wind to topple them over. So we had to choose our place of repose very carefully. Ursa Minor prefers the shelters so she proceeded .1 mile further to the shelter. She came back to eat with us.Last night's special at the store close to the hostel was two pizzas for $15.00. So we got four figuring we'd each be able to devour a large one single-handedly. Swan was the only one who succeeded, then popped down an eggroll and inhaled a large snickers for dessert. I had no luncheon or breakfast food so had eaten only two Access all day. It still was a lot of food! The fourth pizza was for the trail today but Ursa Minor and April Showers had so much of their own left I took it with me. Today's meals: two pieces for breakfast with my apple, banana, and orange juice; three pieces for lunch, and three pieces for supper with three bean and cheese tortillas and lots of trail mix. I should have some Access and Pro-Flex bars waiting in Daleville tomorrow so I will have some decent daytime nutrition and energy source once again.April Showers left 30 minutes before us this morning saying "see you at Campbell Shelter", our agreed-upon end-of-day locale. So Ursa Minor and I hiked together most of the day just lollygagging along with only 10 miles planned. We stopped for lunch and took our time leaving that vista, stopped to filter water, slowly enjoying every mile. Little did we know that McAfee Knob at 9.3 miles into our hike is the second most photographed spot on the trail, giving incredible views from 3250 feet. April Showers knew this so she hiked full-steam ahead without passing go, without collecting $200, straight to the Knob. She waited 2-1/2 hours for us. Had we gotten there sooner we probably would have gone four to six miles further today, as we were all feeling good and pretty much pain-free. By the time we were at the decision-making pivotting point it was 5:30. It would have been nice to knock a few more miles off as tomorrow is a 15.4 mile day, but nothing is lost. We did take some time over supper to discuss our individual hiking speeds, what-if scenarios, and some general pros and cons about us three strangers thrown together by chance (or an act of God) as we are. It is important to make certain we all are on the same page and to keep the lines of communication open. But then, isn't that the case in every relationship? I look forward to summitting Katahdin with my two delightful hiking sisters in four months!From McAfee Knob we could see tomorrow's terrain - a U-shaped trek across a mountain ridge, then down into Daleville. The handbook mentions landmarks like Snack Bar Rock, Rock Haven (large rock overhang), Tinker Cliffs, The Well (a natural rock hole), Lunch Box Rock and Hay Rock (large tilted sandstone upthrust). Guess we're in for a rocky hike. What great fun!Before I close for today I want to send my congratulations and best wishes to the 2004 graduates of the Rochester, Lake City, and Elgin-Millville High Schools and to the special young women in the music department of St. Catherine's College in St. Paul. It's been an honor to have known you and to have shared the performance stage with so many of you. Remember: "life is a banquet so eat hearty!" Go for the gusto because nothing is impossible. From my peaceful perch on this mountaintop, I'm sending my love to all of you.