Date: 2005-09-20
From: Campsite

To: Pleasant Pond Lean To
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: overcast clouds

start campsitedestination Pleasent Pond Lean Tomiles 13.5 We got up,packed and headed for Harrisons Camp where we hoped to have theirfamous 12 pancake breakfast. Africa had tried three times last night to callthem,but everytime he got the words three for breakfast out,the phone would godead.We hoped they got our message as that is the only way you can eat there.Well,they didn't get enough of our message and there was no breakfast for us.Poor Papermaker asked for,but couldn't even get a cup of coffee.They did fillour water botles for us and Papermaker got a chance to wash his water bag out.Hewas trying to filter water into it last night and dropped the whole thing intothe creek.We ate cold bagels and peanut butter and drank plenty of water. Theday jsut seemed to go down hill from there. When we started out this morning wehad plenty of sun,now a sky full of dark clouds surrounded us.I finally concededdefeat and put my pack cover on just as it started raining. We managed to get to the Kennebec River in time to be shuttled across in thecanoe.This is a service provided free for thru hikers.It is a dangerous riverford because of the release of water by the power generation plant upstream.There is no set release time and the water can rise to a dangerous level veryquickly.There has been one hiker drowned trying to cross. I am not really fondof canoes,but when I got a good look at our ferryman,I was a wee bit moreconfident.Eric looks like a Sumo wrestle.His upper arms and chest was massive.Hepaddles across the river to pick us up in just a matter of minutes. Once we putour packs in the canoe and got our life jackets on he had us across the river inshort order.The sky was still spitting rain and the blowing winds chilled us tothe bone. I found out that there was a restaurant 2.5 miles off the trail.With just alittle bit of arm twisting I convinced the guys to hitch hike down and get a hotlunch.That would kind of make up for the lack of a hot breakfast. Eric told us it was an easy hitch,so the three of us stood at the highways edgewith our thumbs out.I thought the rain would give us an advantage.Evidently noone wanted three soaking wet hikers in their vehicles.Just about the time we hadgiven up hope,here comes Eric across the road to his car.His morning shift offerrying was over.He said we looked liked a motley crew and told us to get inhis car.What an angel!!Within minutes we were sitting at a table ordering a hotlunch!!And we were warm!!!I heard that Papermaker was in the mens restroom withthe hand dryer turned upwards trying to dry himself out.The restaurant had anafternoon shuttle back to the trail.If the rain had not of stopped I am afraidthe shuttle would have left without me!!!   As it was the rain had stopped and so we trudged on through the wetforest.Just south of the Pierce Pond Shelter we found a large grassy area.It islisted in the data book as a parking area.We figured and hoped that there wouldbe no late night hikers come in with their vehicles as we set up along the edgeof the woods. We fixed supper and sat long afterwards enjoying being outdoors,winding down after a tough,wet and somewhat disappointing day.Thehighlight of the day was that the desserts at the restaurant were as god as theylooked.I didn't order any.Usually they look great and taste awful.I was too fullfor dessert anyway.. The wind blew hard all night long but there was no rain fell.At times we couldlook out and see stars overhead.I had just dozed off when I felt somethingcrawling up my leg inside my silk liner.I grabbed around in the dark for myheadlamp,and shined it trying to find the culprit .It was like looking foraneedle in a hay stack.I finally turned the liner inside out ,turning whateverit was lose in the tent. In the wee hours of the morning my body decided to reject the nachos that I hadfor lunch,I was scurrying around in the dark,my headlamp flashing wildly tryingto find my pack which Papermaker had hung up in a tree,then find my toiletpaper,then a convenient place,then find my Rolaids.By the time I found my wayback to the tent I was wide awake!I lay there in the dark listening toPapermaker snore until I finally stuffed toilet paper in my ears and drifted ofto sleep. Bumpkin                           5 Million Steps for Poli