Date: 2015-09-18
From: Caratunk

To: rocky top
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: clear sky

The Sterling Inn is a lovely B&B and hostel. The thru-hiker rate is very affordable, no more than hostels I have stayed at where I had to blow up my air mattress because the bunks were just wood. And it came with breakfast and it had an impressive resupply. AND the owner or his son shuttles hikers to and from town or the trail at no extra charge. The simple kindness of people means so much on this trip. I have been through places where I feel like a beggar, a hobo,a feral thru hiker (ahem- AMC) and I have been through places where people care about your experience and put energy into their chosen profession- that of a hiker hostel. Things like towels, mattresses, access to washing machine, thoughtful and reasonable resupply options and shuttles. Thank you Sterling Inn for being one of those places. Actually, now that I think about it, every hostel I have stayed at is pretty amazing. Although some nickel and dime more than others. But- as a business owner, I understand they have to make a living. Sprinkles are still going to be free at my ice cream shop!Katwalk and I hit the trail on the late side, waiting for all of us to be ready at one time. We were sharing the ride with Joker, a retired army Colonel we have renamed Colonel Sweet Cheeks because of his GI Joe physique and tight hiking shorts. He does not know about this new trail name but hopefully we will see him in Monson and bestow it on him. I think it will stick.We said goodbye to Colonel Sweetcheeks and he hiked away. Katwalk and I have not actually hiked together since North Carolina so we stuck together and chit chatted for a while. The terrain started out nice, a bit of a climb on a level pine needle bed of a trail. It was again a very pretty day, and the woods were particularly fragrant. We continued on a sustained climb, not too strenuous but about 6 miles long. As we got closer to Pleasant Pond Mountain, the climb got tougher. I waited for Katwalk a couple of times and towards the top she asked me if this was hard, because it was hard for her. I said I thought it was pretty tame. We hiked out and I started thinking about it. I have just come straight from the Whites and Southern Maine. This climb is so much easier than those, but actually, it is still a hard day. I think I finally have my trail legs! Damn! And just when I'm about to finish. Poor Katwalk has been home for 3 months getting her foot fixed and then jumped right in to Maine, where there are still mountains to climb. She is either a glutton for punishment or a hard core woman. The climb to the summit was a bunch of rocky ups, hands needed in some places, and coming down was the same. We thought we would get farther along to some streams a few miles up, but we ran out of daylight still up on the rock slab part of the mountain.We decided to pitch our tents up there and be frugal with the water. It was dark by the time we were all set up and enjoying a delicious Katwalk Ghost Chili. The moon was a bright little thumbnail and the stars-oh my, the stars- there were more than I have ever seen. When I was much younger, my brother Bob got me a special birthday present. A star named for me , Bonnie, in the Pegasus Constellation. To this day, that colorful certificate forever changing the name of star # I don't remember-to the name Bonnie is the best birthday gift I have ever received. I looked at that constellation and wondered which twinkle was mine. Katwalk and I ate and talked and laughed. It was a really nice day.