Date: 2009-09-14
From: Moxie Bald Lean-To

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: clear sky

September 14 --I awoke to a sunny day, the clouds etc gone overnight and I was soon off down the easy trail to Monson. All was well until I crossed a gravel road with about 8 steps made of railroad ties, and going down I slid on some gravel, my left foot snapping out in front, my right knee bending, forcing me to sit hard and fast. Once again the cushion of my pack prevented injury, but the pain in my left foot intensified and I could feel swelling immediately. I really don't like falling down, break time! I was enjoying a granola bar in a shaded spot when suddenly Grits came along and we once again headed down the trail together, and soon we found a stream fording where 2 streams met. Deciding to remove the boots was close, the water just low enough to hop rocks with only one wet step. Grits had lost his poles recently and was now using a stick, but made it 0k. I later stopped for a break at the Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To while Grits continued, and there was Not So Crazy in for the night on this pretty afternoon. We talked for a while while 3 SoBos showed up for the night and I was soon on my way. Later, crossing an old railroad bed, I met an 82 year old guy, looking 70, cruising on a nice, red ATV, with a scoped .22 rifle strapped to the front, and talked for about 10 minutes. He had a peculiar way of saying Bangor, it was BAN-GAR, man, that's local. Soon I was along the shore of large Lake Hebron and many more roots, and I chose to take the blue blaze to the 2m walk down Pleasant St into Monson, coming to Shaw's hostel, where I stopped to inquire. I interrupted dinner, 2 full tables of hikers, Zipper was among them and Grits, who offered to lend me cash, they didn't take credit cards, but I wanted to check out the Lakeshore House which I did after a stop at the General Store. I found the Lakeshore House, the store front a 24 hr laundromat, the rear, a pub on the lake, my luck, closed Mondays, and up the outside stairs was the bunkroom, private rooms, a shared bathroom, and TV and internet, there were 2 guests, but no proprietor. I waited for a while and decided to go for food and beer at the local gas station/deli where I met Grits who did not eat at Shaw's because he had arrived after they had started. We both ordered pizzas, I had Fritos too, and we sat out back at the picnic table and pigged out over nice conversation, under a very light drizzle. I went back to the Laskeshore and was about to take a shower when Rebekah showed up and gave me the big room for $40, and when I mentioned that I had been waiting around for her to show up so that I could check in, she said, "What? Didn't you read this?", while pointing to a posted sheet of info. "Of course not!", I quickly replied, realizing how dumb and inattentive I had been, coming out of the woods for a week, ignorant of the real world. The notices were posted in several places, and the information that she provided described the place as "a self service hostel", clearly explaining procedure, not a do's and dont's list, that pretty much said, "find a spot, clean up using whatever's there (everthing was) and we'll settle up later." It caused me to remember when I checked in at the Town & Lakes Motel Cottages in Rangeley, I signed a card, was given a room key and told "...don't worry about paying right now, go clean up and relax." Then there was that hand painted blue sign when entering ME, "The Way Life Should Be." Rebekah was great, took credit cards, told me that Shaw's welcomes her guests for a $7 AYCE breakfast at 7:00, and then said goodnight.