Date: 2008-09-27
From: Monson

To: Wilson Valley Lean-To
Miles today: 10.4
Weather: overcast clouds

I quietly got dressed and slipped out of the room trying not to wake the others.I decided to head over to Shaw's for an AYCE breakfast. On the way I called and got my flight information. I was estimating to summit Katahdin on the 6th and fly out the 9th, this left a little room for a buffer just in case?The breakfast at Shaws was outstanding, Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, and on and on...I was shuttled back to the trail by 10:00. I retrieved my hiking stick from where I had left it and headed out. It began to rain again and rained all day.The rain all night had the streams swollen which resulted in 3 water fords.The first was just below Little Wilson Falls. At the top I ran into Sprite, Freckles & Peregrin whom were slacking south today. We talked a bit then we moved on. At the bottom I was stepping onto slick rock checking out the best spot to cross, as the water was moving quite fast and was mostly waist deep. At that instant, before I could do anything my feet went out from under me and I slammed down hard between 2 rocks. Damn it, not again. The pain rocking through my arm brought near nausea. I thought for sure I had broken it this time? The way my pack was wedged in between the rocks prevented me from moving freely and getting up. My legs were laying in the cold water, all I could do was just lay there growling and cursing quietly. With one arm, I began to to unbuckle my hip belt and straps, until I could slowly and painfully writhe out of my pack and sit on the ground off the rocks.I have never been more disappointed with boots as I have been with these.This is the second worse piece of gear that I have ever owned. The first being the tarp tent.The traction I have on these type of rocks, is like stepping onto slick snot on a hot buttered rock while facing downhill with a rocket blasting from my ass and trying to keep my balance.Sucking it up, I shouldered my pack and carefully made my way across the water.My arm was throbbing and I could feel the tightness increasing around my ring.It was already swollen to the point that I removed skin as I yanked and twisted the ring from my finger.Thinking that the worst was over, I continued down the trail in the rain occaasionly slipping but catching my footing. I was climbing a slight incline when my foot slipped backward as I stepped on some rock. I immediately fell forward and buried my forehead into a small stump. In the mili-seconds that it took to realize I had fallen and struck my head, wondering if my brains were laying on the ground, I at the same time realized the stump was fully rotted and disenigrated on impact. Lucky, or not...... You be the judge?Just when things are looking their worst, something happens to make it all better. I soon came upon and sitting next to the trail, a can of coke with a note attached that read Papa Sarge, and had a heart drawn next to it. Trail Angel Sprite and her never ending trail magic strikes again. I can't even begin to tell you how uplifting that was.Eventually I reached the Wilson Valley Lean-To. There I met "Cotton Joe". He did his thru-hike back in 05 and had returned to do this section and take pictures that he couldn't get when he last came through.I could fully relate to this and knew exactly how he felt? We talked for awhile and he gave me some good insight on places to see further up the trail. I was carrying some smoked Salmon that Sprite had given me. We cut it into pieces and shared it along with the coke.Soon after, Cotton Joe reached into his pack and handed me a brand new Kodak disposable camera. He had brought it as a back up, but since his main camera was working problem free, he knew I could put it to good use.What are the odds? Here in the 100 mile wilderness of Maine, by chance two strangers meet, had shared similar experiences in relatively the same place, three years apart and now today, right here, right now, Cotton Joe is giving me now, what he didn't have then and what I am in need of? Wow! Tell me Angels don't walk with you out here.I wonder how I will pay this forward? Hopefully, at some point in the future I will be a messenger like this and make the difference to someone, Too cool!A little later Tail Gate, Blazing Star & Mas arrived. We all are in the shelter, out of the rain that seems to have no end. Tail Gate is bored and proceeds to teach me how to play Cribbage. We don't have a board with pegs so we use pen and paper. We played until it got to dark to see. Despite anything that has ever happened, I still have never had a bad day on the AT.