Date: 2010-09-05
From: Dunn Notch and Falls

To: Bemis Mountain Lean-to
Miles today: 19.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 145: Maine AngelsBeautiful sunrise. Stunning. And it was right out the opening of my tent. Boss saw it, too, and we both went back to sleep for a bit after a few comments on nature's never-ending beauty. An hour or so later, we were hiking over to the road. The dead road. Oh geez. This could be a difficult hitch. Not only was it 8 miles into Andover, but we forgot that it was Sunday, so the early hitch idea may not have been the best. It was just before 8am, and we got ready to wait. After maybe two minutes, a van in the trail head lot turned on and off, and a little lady popped out. I went to talk to her, and she said her name was Pat and that she'd be happy to take us into Andover. Joy! Pat was supporting her brother, who she had only just dropped off at the trail, and was happy to help out whatever hikers passed her way. We couldn't have been happier. We drove into town and talked about New Mexico, where she's from, and when we got to the general store, we all popped out and had a shop. The pickings weren't perfect got hikers, but Boss and I were able to find that we needed for the next few days. And since Pat insisted that we take our time and get breakfast, we did. Bacon, egg, cheese sandwich and chocolate milk. Soon, we were back on the road to the trail head. After we pulled over, Pat pulled out a few chairs for us to sit in while we organized our food. We chit chatted some more before it was time to hike again. What a nice lady! We said many many thanks to Pat and took off up the mountain. It was only just past 9am. Such a lucky strike running into a trail angel like Pat! Thank you, Pat!!It was a bit of a steep climb up (as they are), but we made it up and over Wyman mountain to the Hall Lean-to by 11:30 and had lunch. HD mama was there! As well as a couple from Tennessee. We all talked about the weather and the trail before leaving at different times and getting very chilled. It was pretty cold today. Maybe 60 degrees when the wind wasn't blowing...?We hiked downhill for a while before heading up to Moody Mountain. A tough, steep climb where part of it had been re-routed due to a washout earlier in the season. A bunch of the trail had washed away with the rain!? The trail we walked was definitely new, but it worked, and it was steep. We hiked down Moody to the road and met Old Man River and Temporary (his wife, who he introduced as "my wife is Temporary" - ha!). They had burgers grilling and offered us lunch. Heck yeah!! OMR has hiked a bunch of the AT, and Temporary has hiked bits and pieces with him at times. Boss and I chatted with them as we ate delicious burgers, chips and drank Cokes. We hadn't had much trail magic in a while and today we'd been hit twice. Would there be free massages at the shelter tonight?!?!Sadly, we had to leave them, but our bellies were full and happy. We couldn't thank then enough for their generosity, timing and location (and Boss and I both cannot wait to bring our own trail magic to the trail one day, next season). Thanks Old Man River and Temporary!!The long climb up to Old Blue Mountain was brutal, especially after such a hearty snack. It was slow, and there were a few false summits, but soon after we met sobo Will and his dog Ada, it began to sprinkle and we finally summited while it rained. There was still quite bit of mud from the heavy Earl rain, and all the roots and rocks on the trail were slippery. After this mountain, we only had six more miles of rolling hills before we finished our long day. Still trying to catch you, Scatters!!So, the next six miles were slow, and the rain was on-again/off-again. It was cold if you stopped for more than three minutes, and my legs were tired. My brain seemed pretty slow, too. Perhaps this 20-mile day was a bit ambitious??We pulled it off and rolled into the shelter just after 7pm. Only Saint (nobo) is here now. There was plenty of time to set up before dark, however, dinner was with headlamps. It is cold!! Glad to be all snuggled up in my sleeping bag, but my fingers are freezing from blogging! Time. For. Bed. Happy Birthday, One Life!!! Full blog and photos: http://maine2010.blogspot.com