Date: 2004-09-09
From: Shaw's Lodging, Monson, ME

To: Lakeshore House Lodge, Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I had a good sleep while it rained all night. Down stairs I could hear Keith Shaw, Jr. calling to us to wake up and have breakfast. It was a little before 7 am. when I arrived in the kitchen. I felt like I was the last one there.I¢ve heard so many things about Shaw¢s from newspaper clippings, other hikers, and guidebooks. I guess I expected so much more. The food was very good and the Shaw¢s made me feel completely at home. But I couldn¢t help noticing the rundown, overused feel of the place. Keith even offered me a single room, jacked up to $30. It looked like they shoved all the old furniture from the attic into a spare room. So I kept my twin bed in the barn even though I had to walk outside to use the bathroom in the main house.I felt that Monson gives you a strong motive to leave town and finish the Trail. The rain may have had something to do with that. It made the streets look bleak and gloomy. Everyone was hanging out in the livingroom waiting out Frances, the hurricane remnants from the south. I also got a chance to see Bones one more time before he hit the trail. He was staying at Shaw¢s and hoped to take his time through the Wilderness. He used to travel with Myst but was held up in Monson waiting for a mail drop. We exchanged email addresses in case we didn¢t see each other again.As I left Shaw¢s, I saw Giggles and 30-30 checking out. I suspected they weren¢t heading into the mountains in this downpour. The streets were flooded. I¢m sure the river crossings would be treacherous. I suspected that they were moving to Lakeshore House Lodge down the street. I considered this too but felt it would be too much work to pack my bag and cart everything through the rain there.I walked down to the general store to look for re-supply. Among other things, I was on a mission to find a small container of peanut butter for my seven days in the Wilderness. All the jars in the store were too big and too heavy. Shaw¢s hiker box contained a 4 oz container with half the contents gone and fork marks. I just couldn¢t bring myself to snatch it. Who had this before? Did they lick the spoon? Along the way, I saw Hotrock painting the second floor porch of a rundown building. He had made it into town that morning and was staying at the new hostel named Trail Magic, run by a massage therapist. For a low price or work-for-stay, you get a bed, but no shower. He looked happy enough to receive a roof over his head, but I could not imagine Polar and Pilot enjoying either Shaw¢s or Trail Magic as a night¢s accommodation. I told him that I heard the Lakeshore House Lodge was nice and he should mention it to the girls when they arrive tomorrow.Later when I was using the Internet at the library, I bumped into 30-30. He told me about how nice the Lakeshore House Lodge is¢how the rooms are refurbished with elegant furniture and paintings. They had many private rooms too for the same price as Shaw¢s. He strongly encouraged me to move over there.So in a Monson minute, I had checked out of Shaw¢s and lugged my stuff to Lakeshore for the remainder of my stay here. Keith Shaw, Jr. was cool about the whole thing too. He could tell I needed my last ounce of luxury before hitting the woods.And so, here I am in a single room with a double bed, new furniture, neat wallpaper, Venetian blinds, a working fan, television, and arm chair. I feel I¢m in the guest room of someone¢s house. There is also an industrial kitchen here we may use. Bob, the owner, also brings us blueberry pies from the Pie Lady down the street and we have free reign to the coffee and tea. The house is on the lake with a small backyard. If the weather were just a tad bit nicer, I¢d fire up one of the two gas grills and make some cheeseburgers. There is also a Laundromat that is cheaper than using the Shaw¢s facilities.I share the place with 30-30, Giggles, Matt, a south bounder who hurt his ankle, and a guy named Bob who is building a house around here. We ordered pizza for dinner from the store down the road and watched DVD¢s in luxury.The library also let me borrow a book for the evening. I¢m not sure if I¢ll get out of here tomorrow, especially since I have not found a decent 4 oz jar of peanut butter yet.