Date: 2018-07-07
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: Monson (ME15 Road Crossing)
Miles today: 22.0

It was chilly when I woke up at first light. I loved it! It really felt like Maine should (in my opinion). I got on the trail a little before six. I wanted to get an early start so I could get into Monson in the afternoon and have some time to relax there as well as do my usual hiker errands. I started with a brisk pace to warm up a little. The climb of the morning was Moxie Bald, and I had beautiful views on top. I also had it all to myself, which was cool. At the summit, the breeze was chilly, but I was plenty warm from the hike up. I took a few photos and then started down the other side of the mountain, which was pretty boggy. After Moxie the hiking mellowed. There was a stretch that followed a river through Horseshoe Canyon, which I really liked. The views and sounds of the river were beautiful while I walked. I kept on hiking and chatted with a few folks I passed on the trail, and before I knew it I was at the ME 15 road crossing. I got there just before 2:30pm, and somehow I had a tiny cell signal and was able to call Shaw¢s hostel to come get me. I hadn¢t originally planned to stay in Monson, but after hearing about Shaw¢s it seemed like a nice place, and it was easiest if I stayed the night after resupplying. Hippy Chick and her husband Poet own and run Shaw¢s. They thru-hiked in a past year and seemed very passionate about the trail and Maine. Hippy Chick picked me up at the trailhead and took me to Shaws. It was, indeed, a great place. It was full of SOBOs and a few section hikers. I also caught up with a few NOBOs: Apollo and Skutch, Homebound, and two people I hadn¢t seen in a very long time - Redbird and Gumby. We all ended up having dinner together in town and recounting war stories, as well as learning a bit more about each other.Resupply in town was a little rough in terms of selection. Shaw¢s had most things, but only one rice side. I ended up piecing together my resupply between Shaw¢s, the gas station, and the expensive general store. To be clear, I had plenty of food. I think since I knew it was my real last real resupply I was just hoping for a few things that I couldn¢t get - you know, first world Hiker problems :-). I knew this was almost my last hurrah of eating garbage, which I will probably miss in some ways and not in others. I also stopped by the ATC office in town to get the lowdown on how it works with The Birches shelter at Baxter State Park, etc. I¢m glad I did because I did not realize I needed $10 cash for the Birches (because I didn¢t pay attention to my AWOL guide!).I felt pretty sorted and ready to go after Shaw¢s. It was interesting seeing all of the southbounders there! One lady was quitting after going through the hundred mile wilderness. Others were just starting to find their grooves. I was grateful to see my NOBO friends at the hostel, grateful for the fact that we¢d all made it this far, and also that there was still more of the journey to come. Tomorrow I will enter The Wilderness. Ok, well, re-enter I guess :-).Postscript:Thanks for hanging with me as I haven¢t posted for a while! If you have AT&T in Maine and don¢t live in Portland or Bangor, just throw your phone away! It¢s dead weight.... I also have been super tired lately and can¢t seem to stay awake, so it has been a struggle to stay caught up. Nevertheless, please bear with me and I should be up to date soon. I will have an entry for every day, all the way to the end! I am uploading more photos as I go along as well.