Date: 2013-09-06
From: east branch piscaraquis river

To: monson
Miles today: 6.7

9.6.13 Friday - day 159East Branch Piscataquis river - Monson6.7 miles - 4 hoursCold overnight, wore winter hat as i slept. Woke up to loons calling. River current slowed since yesterday, hazy fog hovers above the river. Blue gray sky, still cold out. Finger tips really numb as i take down tent. Slight climb to gravel road then back into trees, muddy as usual. Sun comes out, temperature rises as I pass snow mobile paths & reach lake side. Trail goes to the left of lake, i stop to take pics when the trees clear, look for moose, no luck. Typical ME hike to ME15, got ride to Monson. Lakeshore Inn is full so we go to Shaw's hostel where we meet Susan & Dawn the owners. Some hikers cancelled so we got last available bunks. Mother Theresa, Grizzly, Professor, Peaches, Still Here, Wilson shuttle in. Dallas & Muffins arrive later. Monson has one main street with gas station on one side, lake, museum, pub, post office in center, community center opposite end. After showering, Susan offers ride to grocery for resupply. 6 of us pile into SUV and get dropped off, i get the usual Knorr rice sides, tuna, pop tarts added a strawberry & a orange creme whoopie pie, love those, gotta eat them up while i can. Susan drove off to run errands & pick up a hiker, she said there was an outfitter just down the hill, well we walked & down the hill was pretty far, it was neighboring Greenville. Downtown is the intersection of 2 main streets. Shore of a big lake just off to the side. As we walked we saw aquatic planes diving towards lake surface to land. Pretty amazing sight. The Fly-in pilot group is in town for a gathering. At outfitter bought small gas canister which will be more than enough to reach the end. waited on front steps for our ride. We saw Mama Goose in parking lot with locals. She was offered a PT job that morning after by chance running into local clinic boss, right place right time. After long wait Buddy, an older guy with blue veteran cap told he was there to give ride back. The hiker Susan went to pick up turned out to be 5 hikers. Buddy was cool, pointing to Chair Back Mountain and White Cap at a distance to the left as he drove us back. Did laundry, i put on loaner clothes from the rack so i can keep my clothes fresh for 100 mile wilderness. Post office to mail home souvenirs, stuff from pack i won't need, and some Maine maple syrup, pure and tasty, pricy though so i got a couple tiny jugs. Off to late lunch at local bbq joint Spring Creek Bar b q, run by husband & wife, Mike & Jane. He worked on power lines long time, on assignment in Texas he liked & learned their bbq style, opened this store a while back. Luckily tonight is rib night, i order a half slab and it was tender fall off the bone & smokey. Excellent, a real gem to have great bbq way up in the sticks of Maine. Mac n cheese, baked beans, salads, lemonade, pies also homemade & really delectable. Family there is really friendly also, you can see Mike working in the back, wife is out front greeting those who come in. Glad we ate here. Went back to pack bags, getting prepared to enter 100 mile Wilderness tomorrow. Tonight it is setting in: Monson is the last trail town. On the other side of the 100 Mile Wilderness is the entrance to Baxter State Park and Mt. Katahdin. Getting even closer...