Date: 2003-08-29
From: US201, Caratunk (520') 

To: Bald Mountain Lean-to (1280')
Miles today: 14.7

Aloha! Oh my ________ (fill in the blank)! I can't believe what a lucky gal I am - in so many ways. Each day there is something new, something special. Sometimes it's the terrain, sometimes the fauna and flora, and sometimes the people. Today it was the people; or at least one particular person in this case. Everyone I have met out here is wonderful but now and then... an extra special one comes along.The morning began with a scrumptious breakfast cooked up by Paul consisting of French toast, scrambled eggs, potatoes, fresh fruit, cranberry muffins, orange juice, and coffee. It was a feast and so very tasty! I had heard that the Caratunk breakfast was not to be missed and I wholeheartedly agree. It's a mandatory for any future hikers. Yummy!Since I had to stagger from the table way to full to hike, it was time to complete the several errands still on my town list. Things like grocery shopping from the Caratunk¢s in-house store, pack, transmit a couple of journal entries, make some phone calls, and mail some junk home. (Yep, there goes the moose's tooth.) It was obvious I wasn't going to be leaving town on the early bus. And I'm so glad I didn't!As I was returning from the post office I observed another hiker coming in the opposite direction. I really didn't pay much attention until he was a little closer and the thought entered my mind that he resembled another hiker I once knew in '01. As we continued toward each other I kept glancing at him thinking even the clothes resembled what the guy used to wear. It wasn't until we were standing almost in front of each other that it dawned on me that it might actually be the same person. With my head cocked in the inquisitive puppy dog style I've been told I have when I'm baffled, he stopped and mimic'd my motion. It was the smile that gave him away - Mountain Dancer from the Class of '01!Mountain Dancer is one of the most adorable French-Canadians you would ever want to meet. I've been crazy about him since we met way back at the beginning of this Grand Adventure. He was there the day my leg snapped and was such a honey making sure my tent was placed in the perfect place, faced the sunrise, and was set up immediately. He, as with all those present that day, was a godsend. My last sighting of Mountain Dancer was the next morning when he came to say aloha. He had made sure I was sufficiently taken care of by the others and departed bright and early. Due to a family situation he knew he was going to have to leave the trail soon and was trying to put in as many miles as he could. He made it to the halfway mark of Carlisle, PA. What a surprise to see him walking down the street today!It turns out that he had had recent contact with Don Quixote and knew of my whereabouts. He was about to send an email out to the '01 Class as Tumbleweed and Happy Feet did when he received an email from Don stating that he would be meeting me in Caratunk. It didn't take him long to put together a backpacking kit, grab a couple hours of sleep and hit the road. He was standing at the Caratunk House at 9:30a looking to surprise us both. He did that for sure. Mine came on the road and Don's came when we arrived at the lean-to.Mountain Dancer hiked along with me all day. His goal is to hike with each of us for one day and then whatever else he can get so he's headed to Monson also. Poor Coffee, he¢s such a sweetheart too. He left us to catch up most of the day by either hiking way ahead of us or behind. Mountain Dancer and I chatted up a storm the whole way. It was such fun to catch up. Such great fun!As Coffee often does, Mountain Dancer helped to melt away the miles. Our first six miles were accomplished in two hours. A combination of easier terrain, a good breakfast and a mild adrenaline rush made me almost fly UP the trail. I almost didn't even notice that we were climbing... almost. Not a terrible climb but a constant one. It didn't matter; we were at the Pierce Pond Lean-to for lunch having done six miles without even thinking about it. After all these low and slow mileage days, that was wonderful. From there though it was a hellacious UP.For the next 1.25 miles the trail went pretty much straight UP. Beginning at 1340' we went near vertical to 2480'. I swear I don't recall signing up for mountain climbing when I started this hike! Now admittedly it could have been UP to last week's 4000'+ peaks but it doesn't matter - an UP is an UP and they all hurt!   From there it was to take forever to get to Moxie Pond (970'), a mere 7.7 miles away. We didn't think we were ever going to get there. When we did arrive, we got to enjoy the ATV¢rs tearing up the road we had to walk on. Foot traffic only? Hummm... It took less than an hour to finish the day's hike with an UP to here. Thanks to Mountain Dancer I also almost danced over these mountains. It was great!Mountain Dancer's arrival was a tremendous surprise to Don also. I was almost thinking he was going to cry. I know I almost did. They've been chatting ever since. As has everyone else. You gotta love a French accent!I've given this some thought lately and I'm pretty sure I'm right... there's an Aloha Conspiracy going on. It's a wonderful thing too. I'm almost of the belief that many of my former hiking companions have gotten together and emailed each other on how they're going to make sure I complete this hike this time. If you think about it, there was Lady Hawk that handed me off to Monya, who later returned to hand me off to Short Job, who then turned me over to Pizazz, who passed me along to Tumbleweed and Happy Feet, who then passed me over to Mountain Dancer. So you see, there seems to be conspiracy and I'm the luckiest gal around to be the center of it. I couldn't have asked for a better group of conspirators! Now, if there's not a conspiracy going on, I don't want to know because I love this whatever it is!I was about to bid you adieu but I just thought of one other thing. My conspirator friends Tumbleweed and Happy Feet had one more funny for me today. As I mailed my package the mailwoman stated that I had mail there - a postcard. My sweet conspirators sent a postcard with a moose on it to ensure I knew what one looked like since I'm the only person in Maine that hasn't seen one. Smartalecks! I know! Love 'em anyway!Almost forgot, on a down note, Gutsy was still unable to get the shuttle problem resolved. Her hope of meeting us at the next shelter isn't going to work. As it stands, she will now meet us in Monson and join us for the 100 Mile Wilderness and Big K. Pity she can't be here now but we'll take what we can get. Looking forward to seeing her then.Okay, now I will say goodnight. It's been another fantastic day with many more to come I'm sure. I sure do love this job! Wuhuu! Goodnight!Blood, Sweat and Tears: only tears of joyAches and Pains: in my normal graceful gazelle state I went to jump UP a rock only to have my planted foot slip while the rest of me was in the air in a forward motion. Result? All 148 lbs of me landed on the right knee that then landed on the corner of the rock. It's bruised, swollen and gonna hurt tomorrow. It's a Motrin 800 night.Moans and Goans: why can't every day be like the recent ones?... waah!Critter count: 2x chipmunks. No moose, not even moose poop. Wench saw one. Does that count?Countdown: 136.5 miles