Date: 2014-08-01
From: Powerlines ~2046

To: Monson, ME Lakeshore House
Miles today: 24.8

My mind was on one thing today. Monson.I didn't really want to leave myself a big day today to get into Monson, but alas it was a +20 miler. Other than Moxie Bald, today would be relativity flat, but not easy. Monson is the last trail town/resupply we have left till the end, unless you are a SOBO then it's your first. So Monson is a legendary and one of the most important stops on the AT. Can't really see a situation where someone would not stop into this town. But for now I hike, and I am feeling tired and drained.It is a nice day, but for some reason I can't get into it. I feel exhausted, and all I thought about was food. Mozzarella sticks for example were on the mind. Also a final zero was looked forward to. I really need it, actually I need a lot of things right now. To be honest if the trail was any longer I would really consider buying new shoes, getting a new sleeping mattress, and taking multiple zeros to rest my body like I did in NJ. But, I have a deadline now, Friday August 8th I need to be in Baxter State Park, so there is no time to lolly gag. Moxie Bald was another Blueberry heaven with some great views, and Piscataquis River about 8 miles after Moxie peak was one of the biggest fords that we actually cross. Knees deep in places. Even though it is still cold water, it feels real good on the feet. After another smaller ford, more like a rock-hop, the trail was lonely, rooty, and slippery. I was in the mode to just trudge through, and if I could sleep walk without falling down I would.It was getting late, and I really wanted to get into town before the pub closed at The Lakeshore House, which also doubles as my hostel of choice in town. About 8 I got off the trail, and walked the 1.5 miles into town and to my happiness the pub was open. Oh baby! They do have mozzarella sticks! An order of those along with a very good burger and fries with a cheap lite beer. Left Field, DaVinci, and Dino were also roaming around. Upstairs to the bunks the placed was packed. I was excited to also see Happy and Tree packing up their food supply for the final stretch. For a bit a bunch of us was sitting around the common area reminiscing about the old days on the trail as if we had been done for 20 years. It was actually late for hikers, 11pm to be up chatting like this especially when some of them were leaving the next morning. It was cool, but I think all of us were in the realization that this was coming to and end. For a long time the end of the trail was just a figment of our imagination. Months away. Now we are counting by the days. Can no longer say we have hundreds of miles to go. By the end of the next hiking day our mileage to complete will be in the double digits. It's a reality now, the light at the end of the tunnel.The room I was in had 5 people in it. It was hot and stale. About 2 in the morning I laid and slept on the couch in the common area cause I knew I couldn't sleep in that room. Then I realized the last time I slept in the common area was the very 1st hostel in Georgia. The Walasiyi-Inn That time it was because of snoring. This is the last, it all comes back around I guess.Feeling weird.SOTD, Everyone's Talking, -Harry Nilsson