Date: 2003-09-25
From: Long Pond Stream

To: Campsite
Miles today: 1.6
Weather: clear sky

start Long Pond Stream destination campsite It was a really short night last night. I certainly could have slept 6 more hours. But,breakfast was ready and so was my stomach. Since our slack pack didn't work out too good yesterday,we decided to just hike out this morning. Except we missed the first shuttle. So mid morning found us bidding goodbye to those staying in town,and being dropped off by Keith at the same place as yesterday. Only this time we will turn northistead of south. And this time we got to ride up in the front of the truck. So,up the mile and a half walk we went to get to the trail. I hadn't taken but a few steps before my left foot slipped on the mud on the side of a huge puddle. Down I went doing the splits. Luckily for me I managed to keep the rest of me from following my leg as it sank in thigh high muddy water. It was not promising to be a good day. Mudbutt and I both had reservations about hiking out today. Something just did not "feel" right abot the hike. Our first ford of the day was right as ! we got on the trail. After checking out our options,we decided to just wade across the stream. I had forgotten and packed my Waldies in the middle of the pack,but I wasn't about to get my boots wet,well at least one ofthem, this early in the day. So I unpacked mypack and put my campsoes on,stringing my boots on my pack. The water was frigid to ay the least,and by the time I got across the tream,they were throbbing from the cold. But...my boots were fairly dry as were my socks. Well,one of each was dry. We ad no sooner started down the trail again when we came upon a campsite. It was just off of the trail,down a steep bank,with the stream cascading along side of it. It did not take much persuasion by eitherof us to stop for the day and set up camp! We had hiked 1.6 miles! But we both just wanted some down time,in the woods,and we knew that places like this were not found everyday. So,we set up our tents,got our sleepingpads out and proceeded to take a long nap after lunch. F! or a long time I just laid there driking in the sights and sounds of the wilderness,trying to comprehend the fact tha Am in Maine. It just seems sureal to me,that I am actually here. We gathered up somefire woodand by dusk had a nice campfie going. Several of the hikers from in town came by. They had a really good laugh at us,sitting at our camp just a few short miles from where we started this morning. But..... today will go down as one of my most favorie days on the trail...we were not in any hurry,and we took advantage of a beautiful campsite. It was almost dark,and we had finished supper and were sitting by the fire,when out hiked twp hikers! It was Morph and Moondancer !I hiked with Morph back in Virginia for a while,and Moondancer was on our internet hiking list. We invited them to join us at our camp and within minutes we were swapping stories and laughing at our different experiences. Such a wonderful time,and such an unexpected ending to our day. We had all just climbed into our tents when the rain started,a slow gentle rain. I certai! nly hope it passes through before morning!total miles 1.6