Date: 2008-09-27
From: spring

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 7.0

Life is good. I am here at the Northern Outdoors lodge in the big town of Caratunk, Maine, having walked here from Georgia. I cannot believe I am only two towns away from the end, only 151 more miles until I am standing on that mighty mountain called Katahdin. I have pictured it everyday for the last 5+ months, have pictured myself there, standing on that mountain with the wind in my hair and the sun on my face, my hands raised in victory. In less than two weeks I will be there!!!!! Today is a rainy day, though beautiful. I knew Frank and my friend Lisa sent me a package to the Caratunk post office and that the post office closes at 11:15 on Sat so I had to hurry if I wanted to get here in time. I woke to rain on my tent, ate a quick breakfast in the tent then headed out. The trail today was so beautiful!!! Not long after leaving I came to Pierce Pond which was lovely in the misty morning light. The trees on the far shore were reflected perfectly in the still water. Rain drops decorated the smooth surface, each one hitting the water and creating a bubble and then a ring that mingled with lots of other bubbles and rings. The drops on the water make me think of fireflies in the night, there and then gone. After the pond the trail followed Pierce stream, right next to it with the sound of the water flowing constant and peaceful, lots of lovely waterfalls, the water falling over green rocks. The forest was a wonderland of red and yellow-leafed trees mixed with pines, moss on the floor thick and lush, leaves on the trail, fallen from the treetops like confetti. I could not get enough of it, taking pictures at every turn. How great it would have been to have my tripod, camera, lens and lots of time. Then Lead Dog and I came to a "bridge" over a stream. I say bridge like this because my gosh! It was just a thin tree laying across the river, bark removed, with two "guardrails" that extended only a foot and a half above the main tree. That would not do much for me except break my fall to insure I would crack my head open, tangle my legs and hit the water on my back. Fun. But really, it was an adventure! So anyway, we both made it across the bridge safely and then Lead Dog made a comment about how the beauty of the place and the slippery rocks didn't factor into his planning for getting to Caratunk. I looked at my watch and was horrified to see it was already 9:30 and we still had to ride the ferry across the Kennebec River and then walk to the post office. So we proceeded to switch from lollygagging mode to run-through-the-forest-at top-speed mode! We were moving, working up a good sweat to mix with the falling rain. I was frustrated with myself for dallying. Plus I was starving as my pop tart breakfast is not exactly the breakfast of champions! And I was hot because I had on way too many clothes as it was cold when I was packing up my wet tent this morning. Anyway. We were hurrying, trying not to twist an ankle on the slippery roots and rocks. Finally, around 10:15 I stopped and said "the heck with it! " that I didn't want to run anymore. Lead Dog was getting out his phone to call the post office, see if they could help me out in some way when around the bend I saw a hiker coming towards us, traveling south! I stopped him, said hello and asked how much longer to the ferry. "8 minutes" he said. Whoooo hooooo! We were in luck! We hit the trail running, saying we would try and beat his time. We cruised through the forest, me not looking around for fear of seeing some more fantastic shots to photograph. I walked with my blinders on! And then up a steep hill, down the other side, some wooden steps and ta da! We were at the Kennebec River and there was the ferry. Now let me say that the ferry is not a giant boat, nor is it even motorized! The ferry is a little red canoe with a man at the stern holding a paddle, named Dave or better known as "the hillybilly"He handed us some paperwork (saying that if the boat sunk he would claim all of our worldly possessions since we obviously would have no more use of them) and then a life jacket and we were off! Lead Dog sat in the front and paddled and I sat on a seat in the middle and took pictures. We got out stuff, walked up the trail 10 minutes and then down the road to the post office. Arrived there with time to spare!!!! I got my package of goodies from my friend Lisa and another from trail angel Frank. What fun! I love getting mail. I opened them, had a few things to sample and then Lead Dog and I hitched the two miles down to this place where I am now. It is supposed to rain all day and tomorrow too. It is fabulous timing to be here, in this warm and dry place for the day. I plan on updating my journals, calling some family and friends, relaxing and living the good life. It is worth celebrating as I have walked here all the way from Georgia! Hard to believe, but true. I walked here from Georgia!!!!! Have I mentioned that life is good??