Date: 2014-07-31
From: little bigelow lean2

To: caratunk, me
Miles today: 21.7

I was up early, real early. I had to catch the ferry across the kennebec ferry which ends at four but they want you there by three and it was 20+ miles away. I was on the trail before six on a lovely morning following down the river for a while. The initial downhill ended at flagstaff lake where i took my first stop of the day. I wasnt going to take a break this early but what a sight. The morning fog was laid on the lake with mtns sticking up behind and loons talking in the distance. I sat on a log and listened to the quiet lapping of the ripples hitting the shore and the lonely call of the loons. One more reason maine is my favorite part of the trail. I know favorites are not politically correct in this day and age but maine is gorgeous, and my favorite. I left the lake with the only two hills of the day directly in front of me. They were both small 700' climbs with no names. I was glad to see a sobo as i came down the second hill, no more breaking spiderwebs with my face. Almost 8 miles in i got to west carry pond lean2 for another sit next to a beautiful lake. I got some water and a good snack, once again i couldve sat there for hours. From here it was all basically flat terrain all the way to caratunk, piece of cake. Then came east carry pond with a sandy beach. Again i had to sit and stare, its mesmorizing. Across the pond (more like a lake) was a house on a bank that i thought, now thats living the dream. As i made my way along the bank of the pond i heard a small plane coming to i stopped to look for it. Turned out to be a float plane and he landed on the pond then drove over to the house. Yup theyre living large. Wow. I had been leap frogging with boomer for a while now and i passed him when he took a break just after the pond. I was cruising down some easy trail, mind wandering, feeling good when i saw small moose tracks in the mud. That made me think, where there are small moose tracks there are momma mooses. I slowed down to look around. Then, in a pond, stood a lady moose. She was eating plants off the bottom of the pond. She would stick her head underwater, grab a mouthful, pick her head up and chew. Repeat. I watched her for a bit when i heard boomer coming. I motioned to him to be quiet so he could see her too. He was pumped. I never heard anyone use the word 'cool' so many times in one sentence. We watched for another fifteen minutes then snuck away without scaring her. It was my first trail moose, so excited. I made good time for the next while over easy trail making good time to get to the ferry. Hmmm, is that thunder? Dam, would that shut down the ferry? I thought about stopping at the pierce pond lean2 but didnt, i needed to make the ferry. The trail was flat on the guide but you never know the condition of it. It did get worse over the last four miles. The trail had many a root and rock. It was nice though, i followed a nice river for miles so i could watch the river and the falls while i walked. Thunder again rumbled. Dam. When i got to the ferry cross the sky opened. I was soaked in minutes. I talked to a fella while the ferry took two others the the other side. I watched as the canoe went diagonally thru the river fighting the current. Then he brought two back and it was my turn. I got to ride like a princess and sit in the middle and not paddle. We initially went way up river then on crossing the current takes you back down to where you get out on the other side. I got the lowdown from the guide. Eat at northern outdoors and stay at the sterling inn. Still pouring i walked into 'town' to use the free phone. Its supposed to be next to the post office, i did not see it. Rather than wander in the rain i went in the post office to ask the lady aboutthe phone. She asked where i was going and called em up for me and had me wait under the awning, super. People are pretty nice. Not five minutes later a shuttle showed up, took me to the sterling to get a bunk then took me to get dinner. I stuffed myself at northern outdoors culminating in a lovely brownie sundae that was more than 2 people ahould have eaten. Then the sterling sent a shuttle over to fetch me, free shuttle. I showered and ate snacks there while catching up on chores and trying to dry everything that had just gotten wet. The sterling is a nice quiet place, peaceful to hang out, and a neat old house. Glad to be inside as it rained all night. I liked being in downtown caratunk.