Date: 2014-07-14
From: Shaw's Lodging (Monson, ME)

To: Leeman Brook Lean-To
Miles today: 3.0
Weather: broken clouds

With the remainder of my trek completely planned out, Birdman and I set this day aside to be our last recharge before the end. We woke up late (for us, anyway), gorged on the ample breakfast at Shaw¢s, and then proceeded to do as little as possible.Let me explain a little bit more about Shaw¢s. This hostel has been one of the most popular pit stops on the trail, as offers Northbounders their last chance for clean sheets and real food until reaching the other side of the 100-Mile Wilderness. Though one other hostel has opened in recent years to compete for thru-hiker¢s affections, the reputation hospitality and bang-for-the-buck definitely made Shaw¢s my destination. Unfortunately, the original owner¢Mr. Shaw himself¢passed away a few years back, robbing the AT of one of its more prolific figures. Some friends of the Shaw family are keeping the tradition alive, though, even when it comes to Mr. Shaw¢s style of breakfast. You automatically get a short stack of pancakes, and then you order 1-to-four of everything else: eggs, sausage, bacon, and scoops of home fries. I wimped out and only got three of everything, and I regretted it when my plate was clean and my appetite was still roaring.The rest of the day was spent recharging electronics, gathering last-minute supplies, and congregating with fellow hikers. My mother and father sent an ample resupply to me, taking away the majority of my work for the day. This period of nothingness actually gave me a glimpse at what my first few weeks at home may be like, with an AT-sized hole suddenly absent from my daily schedule. Sure, I¢ll keep myself busy applying for jobs, trying to convince myself to exercise, and readjusting to society¢s questionable rules (farting in public is taboo again, Alison says); yet even with just an afternoon off, I found myself becoming incredibly antsy. I feel like I am going to have a new project or scheme after I settle in back home, otherwise my sanity may begin to crack.Shortly before Birdman and I were scheduled to depart, we were given an awesome surprise when our long-lost companion Ranger sauntered into Shaw¢s. I hadn¢t seen him since he left for a family event way back in Tennessee¢a vacation from his vacation, as it were. Supposedly he and his hiking buddy, Sloth, are on virtually the same schedule for climbing Katahdin that Birdman and I are on, so we will likely be running into them before the grand finale.After our reunion was over and goodbyes were said, Birdman and I were shuttled up to the trailhead. Now we are officially 3 miles into the 100-Mile Wilderness, our next chance of resupply 97 miles away. It sounds intimidating at first, but in truth the Wilderness isn¢t significantly more secluded than anywhere else on the trail. Logging roads crisscross throughout this section, allowing people to slackpack, have supplies dropped off at prearranged locations, or be picked up if they¢re having trouble.Birdman and I are staying at Leeman Brooke Lean-To with our section hiker friends Spider-Man and Socks, who have quickly become great hiking allies. Their summit day is also the same as ours, so we have coordinated to stay at the same lean-tos/campsites from here on out.Friendship is magic.