Date: 2015-08-08
From: South Arm Road

To: Maine 17
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: overcast clouds

The day, part 1: At 5 o'clock this morning, Marshmallow the cat jumped up onto my bed, purring, and wanting to be petted. I thought it was a bit early, but complied, then turned over to try and doze. Since that ended up being a lost cause, I decided to write yesterday's journal post, not having had the energy or time to do so last night. There are still piles of guest book emails to answer...you know who you are if you've written...I promise I will get to you!!! I love that you are still following and writing in!!! Unfortunately, AT&T thinftks I'm in Canada so I have no data capability. But happily, at least the posts got caught up We gathered our things together, Rob gave us the scenic tour of Farmington, and I got breakfast at the local coffee shop. On the way out of town, Wilson picked up breakfast sandwiches at Burger King, and we ate on the way back to the Trail. Right away we were climbing steeply up Old Blue Mountain, but the trail surface, or "treadway", as certain hikers keep referring to it, was well maintained and well marked, so we kept good pace throughout the day. After a lunch break, during which I finished off last night's lobster, cut into chunks and added to the pasta salad (luxurious hiker fare indeed!), we made our way onto Bemis Mountain. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it was different than any other trail we've experienced to this point; white-blazed and guided by cairns over bare granite, in a rolling, twisty - turn maze. It was like being on a Candyland board game. One section of new trail was springy, like walking on a trampoline. Once onto the Second Peak, the open views were fantastic. After descending to Bemis stream and easily rock-hopping across, we finished the day with a heart - pumping climb to the highway, where Rob was waiting with camera in hand to take photos. And there was more trail magic awaiting in a cooler: all sorts of cold drinks, apples, granola bars, and even a Subway sandwich! Wilson started into the drinks right away, but I wanted my Dr. Pepper from Rob's truck just up in the parking lot, so started heading that way. "You with us, Wilson?", I asked, urging him to follow. He put on his pack and grabbed a coke, and we walked along the guardrail a ways. Then he stopped...The day, part 2: Wilson's trail name was a take from the movie Castaway, where Tom Hanks plays a character who is stranded on an island for 4 years, and whose only companion during that time is a volleyball with a bloody handprint made into a face, named Wilson. Until Gorham, Wilson had a rain cover for his pack with a Wilson replica on the back of it. When we arrived at the hostel there, he bought a new cover at the outfitters, since the Wilson one was no longer rainproof. But then I discovered I had left my Osprey cover at the hut in the Whites we'd stayed at, so I took the Wilson one to get me through Maine, after I sprayed it with waterproofing liquid. The replica Wilson I still have in my possession, but the actual Wilson has drifted off onto the horizon, just as the volleyball Wilson has been swept out to sea in the movie. I was, and am, just as distraught as Tom Hanks was in the movie, on his raft, calling for Wilson, saying he's sorry and feeling bereft at the loss of his buddy. But there is nothing he can do to turn the tide, so he must go on. I must go on. But I will surely miss Wilson all the way to Katahdin. I debated with myself about adding this to my journal post today, honestly. But Wilson was among the best pieces of this hike for me, so I must write about this, I have to tell this part of the story, though I cannot understand why it must be so, and am very sad.