Date: 2008-09-13
From: Logging Rd, Mile 159.4

To: Caratunk, ME, mile 151.2
Miles today: 8.2

Its almost 5pm, and I am sitting in a worn but ample easy chair at the Bingham Motor Inn. Shafts of sun are slanting in through the picture window, which looks out on a series of pick-up trucks with empty trailers behind them. I saw a cluster of people riding 4-wheelers, stopped in front of the foodstore as we came back into town from our hike. This area supports outdoor activities, and as hiking and rafting wind down, the 4-wheeler set fills in the gap before leaf peepers, hunters and snowmobilers.This morning, Karen drove Certain and me out to a logging road about 50 minutes from our base station, and left us off at 9:20. Our goal was to get to the Kennebec ferry crossing by 2pm. Today's hike was along some of the most level Maine trail I have seen. Mixed forest, piney paths, and the ubiquitous rocks and roots worked their magic on me. I could feel my inner pace drop and drop again, and the cloud of chronic concerns grew thinner and weaker by the hour. It was not what you would call a beautiful day, as it was dark along the trail from a skyful of low lying clouds. Last night's heavy rain left the low areas in puddles, which called for care in mincing around the edges or balancing on stones propped helpfully across the mire.By 11 we were coming up on Pierce Pond, where Certain suggested we stop for lunch break. The lean to there was tucked under a cliff, and had a ring side seat on the pond and environs. I dug out my food and found a boulder near the water's edge where I could sit. A dog barked from off in the woods, and I glanced at Certain, who asked if I'd heard that. I said yes, and suddenly got that it was Tom's trail call, blurred by my lunch bag crinkling. I heard footsteps come down the path, and soon Tom emerged into view. He had been behind us, following our Keen boot prints, hoping to catch up with us today. He had slept at the West Carry Pond lean to, and had left around 7:30 ths morning. He went about cooking his dinner, set up on the lean to beams. He seemed to be learning some of the finer points of fueling a woodstove after a drenching rain. Certain met Uncle Tom, and when we were done with lunch, we were on our way. The afternoon sky brightened and eventually cleared, lifting our spirits and adding to the photo opportunities. The trail followed a stream that changed in character as it got closer to the Kennebec. Narrow, rock lined and shallow, it became wider, deeper and filled with alluring waist deep pools. Later it flattened again into a wider, shallower stream coursing over rounded stones. The trail meandered alongside the water at times, and then angled up into the hemlocks and cedars, only to plunge down again to form a narrow trail by the stream's edge. During one such plunge, I heard the clack of poles behind me and there was Uncle Tom again. He reported a bit of a challenging time walking on the slippery rocks and roots, and was quite fatigued by almost 14 miles on the rough footing. I asked if he'd like a ride into town and to share a room at the Bingham motel, and he almost fell over with thanks and gratitude! Although he planned to camp each night, it seemed only right to at least offer to share a room. The three of us came down the hillside into the ferry landing area together. The red canoe was partway across the Kennebec with two hikers on board, so we struck up a conversation with the fellow waiting for the next trip. We met Mr Harrison, owner of Harrison's Pierce Pond camps. One of his guests had left their raincoat behind, and he was sending it over to her via the ferryman. Certain volunteered to deliver it to her at Northern Outdoors, since Karen was waiting for us just minutes from the ferry.Tom and I shared a somewhat tippy, uneasy canoe ride across the higher than normal water. The current near the far shore practically swept us downstream before we could get a grip and bring the boat to shore. Nuff said about that!   After a visit to Northern Outdoors, we returned to the motel, booked a second room for Tom and me, and took a break for a bit. Tomorrow's plan is to start at 8 and do about 12 miles. Now to check the weather forecast...Auntie Mame