Date: 2006-09-01
From: White House landing

To: Wadleigh Stream Lean-To
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: broken clouds

In fact I was the only guest at White House Landing last night and so had the whole place to myself. I thought that I saw a bat flying around inside the cabin ¢ it was likely only the reflected shadow of a large moth attracted to the propane light ¢ but I recalled a CNN special on rabid bats at a kids camp, and that all of the kids had to have shots against rabies, because you can get bitten by a bat and not know it. Fertile ground indeed for ¢The Other¢ to prowl in, and it took me quiet a while to get him to go away ¢ or to go away as much as he ever does!   Bill made a special cheese omelet for me ¢ the only guest ¢ and said that The Weather Channel predicts that the rain will start on Monday, but that we are expected to only get the fringes of the storm, which are the remains of a hurricane [Ernesto?] KT was also concerned about the weather during our conversation last night.   I decided to burn some valuable cell time minutes and to call Baxter State Park and I have reserved a lean-to at Katahdin Stream Campground for the 6th and 7th, so now I have a chance to summit on the 6th, 7th and 8th.   Fixed up with Bill and Linda. I drank 30 Ice Cold diet Cokes in Cans during my three day stay ¢ and was soon across the lake and bidding a fond farewell to WHL in a sunny, but cold, morning.   On the side trail I met with Wondering Bill and Slim on their way to WHL ¢ NOBO thru hiking ¢ they intend to summit on Monday ¢ come rain or shine or high water. I realy do worry about things that other hikers pay no attention too, apparently. Also on the side trail I found a camp chair that one of the ¢GM 3¢ had dropped. They each carried one and swore that the extra weight was worth it in terms of comfort!   Back on the AT, it was a magical hike north. I started on a sun speckled, nicely graded trail ¢ again with spectacular stonework ¢ over two streams ¢ one called ¢Tumbledown Dick Stream¢ ¢ you have to wonder about the origin of that name! The trail continued smooth and level all the way to Nahmakanta Stream Campsite. There I met with NaviGator SOBO, hiking to meet her husband Ol¢ Man at WHL. He is finishing off his hike and she is shuttling the car back and forth, with the aid of a GPS device and the Maine Gazette Map. A realy nice person and I look forward to both of them catching up with me.   North of the campsite the trail becomes more ¢Rooty and Rocky¢ but it still holds hands ¢ although sometimes at shoulders length ¢ with the stream ¢ I love streams! The Nahmakanta Steam at this stage is more like a little river. In my birth County of Cork we would call it a ¢Glasher¢ ¢ more than a stream but less than a river - wide and dark like the river in the middle of Mirkwood in The Hobbit.   Along it¢s banks I met a hiker sitting on a tree stump smoking a cigarette ¢ in response to my ¢Good Morning ¢ I received no reply, and to my ¢Going North or South?¢ he said ¢Neither ¢ I am sitting here smoking a cigarette¢ With memories of the encounter at the Va. border in my head, I sad ¢Good for you¢ and pushed on    I finally reached the south end of Nahmakanta Lake and spoke with a canoeist who, with his two dogs, came ashore on a nice sheltered beach, as I approached. He is out for the Labor Day weekend, camping at remote sites that are accessible only by canoe.   I have now hiked all the way to my last AT map ¢ Maine #1 ¢ is the last of the bunch. The trail skirts the edge of the lake, taking you down over several very nice shingled beaches and up and over a small hill to a trailside sandy beach. Then on to the shelter here, which is almost on the AT.   Shortly after I arrived Walker ¢ ¢Just Walker¢ ¢ SOBO dropped in. He is from Braveria in Germany and speaks with a thick German accent ¢ easy for me to say! He now lives in Nova Scotia in Canada, and is hiking to Hanover.   So I have had my lunch ¢ peanut butter with half a bagel and crackers and pepperoni and coffee ¢ and explored the register. I contributed ¢Ozymandius¢ but am now worried that it took up nearly a page of the notebook ¢ away Other!   My hiking gear is hanging out to dry and sanitize, in the patchy late afternoon sun, the water bottles are full, and the full Platypus is hanging on a sturdy nail. My bed is made up in my usual spot with the rain gear properly positioned under the hip, and the stuff bags in situ under the heels.   My left knee is bothering me again ¢ I can¢t extend it fully and it is hurting again after just seven miles of easy hiking. I got occasional pains in my lower back as I hiked today also. Too much soft living, big eating and Ice-Cold-Diet-Coke-In-A-Can drinking at WHL.   Someone left a pair of shoes and a set of Dockers pants and a shirt here at the shelter. Why would anyone do that?Thought for Today ¢Each day we should remember that we walk in, and with, beauty.