Date: 2009-09-04
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Rainbow Spring Campsite
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: scattered clouds

The logging trucks eventually stopped going by and I tried to sleep. I had a hacking time of it, though. In the morning an RV camper in the restroom said she wondered "how that poor moman can hike." I probably kept lot of people awake. The logging trucks started running again at 4 in the morning. I got up at my regular 5:30. As I was eating breakfast, Bookworm came down and visited with me. He had interviewed the caretaker at the other campsite and stayed there last night. I got organized and on trail by 7:15 and shortly passed Bookworm who had stopped to interview a former thru hiker who was taking pictures of logging trucks. Before long he had caught up to me and we hiked together for a while. After Abol Bridge one enters what is called the Hundred Mile Wilderness. Interesting as it is not really a hundred miles nor is it truely wilderness as there are a number of logging roads that cross the trail. It is, however, remote. And town services are not available until I reach Monson. Thru hikers Union Break, Egg and Turbo, Section hiker Hopper and thru hiker Duckie passed northbound. Book Worm stopped to talk to Duckie. At the Hurd Brook leanto, there were 3 nobo section hikers completing the trail with this section after doing 119 trips over 13 years. They were interesting to me because the 2 women had white hair. But their attitude (at least of one) was not positive. When asked what she would do when the AT was completed she emphatically said "nothing! and nothing that involves overnight outside!" It did not sound like she enjoyed herself. Maybe it was just a bad moment. After all, she did hike the whole trail. After they left the leanto, 2 male section hikers came in. One of them was complaining about the rocks and roots and saying he wasn't having any fun. What did he expect in Maine? I really don't have a lot of patience with such attitudes on the trail. If you are not enjoying yourself, stay home or do something you do enjoy. The trail is not for everyone. It is work. It is sometimes annoying and frustrating and hard. But there is also much to enjoy. There were rocks, roots and bogs in the afternoon. They are somewhat of a constant here. When there is a mile or even a half mile, even a few feet of smooth, level trail it is something of a miracle and to be enjoyed. Pokey, Pip, and Snooze passed NOBO. I think maybe Pip was Snooze' mother hiking the last of the trail with her daughter. Neat. I had lunch on Rainbow Ledges with a great view of Katahdin. Bookworm caught up with me there. We hike together a little and then he goes on or stops to interview someone and I go ahead. Hiking along Rainbow Lake was a treat. Oh, there were still rocks and roots. But the lake was beautiful and the gentle lapping of the lake water on the shore was a pleasant accompaniment to hiking. I have seen very little wildlife although I know they are around. I have seen bear scat, moose poop and moose tracks, toads and froggies. At the Rainbow Spring campsite, Bookworm, Matt & Byran (son and father), Mother Teresa (71) sister (73) and 2 adult daughters were also camping. Tent space was creatively how you found some. But I found a nice nook among the trees and bushes near Bookworm. After I had water and ate dinner I had a momentary scare as I had misplaced my headlamp. But I found it so all was well. I am always scaring myself by temporarily misplacing something. But, so far, nothing has been lost. I walked up to where the other campers were enjoying a campfire. Mother Teresa has done all of the AT including its extensions in Florida and Canada. She was lamenting that her husband was tired of hiking and she really wanted to go west and hike the John Muir Trail. My kind of woman and what a delightful contrast to the complainers earlier in the day. I am drifting off to sleep with the cry of the Loon, which I had not heard before. They make beautiful music! Earlier in the evening I captured the yellow light on the lake as the sun set. There is so much to enjoy and life is good.