Date: 2014-08-04
From: The Farmhouse Inn

To: Monson
Miles today: 105.9
Weather: scattered clouds

First off, I'd like to apologize for once again leaving you in the lurch! My stop in Stratton was a whirlwind of resupply, laundry, and refueling, and I fell behind with my journaling after getting back on the trail.I'm in Monson, the gateway to the 100-Mile Wilderness and my last town stop before Baxter State Park and Katahdin. I arrived here early yesterday after a 3.5-day push from Stratton. Boy, does it feel good to be here! I think back to my first town stop after leaving Springer--Hiawasee, Georgia--and how I didn't think I'd make it 50 miles in light of my knee pain. I don't quite believe I'm still going, 2,050 miles later. I'm zeroing here today to accomplish the usual town chores and do some final work on my fundraiser, and I'll strike out for Katahdin bright and early on Tuesday morning.So what happened during the past week? I hiked from Rangeley to Stratton over two days, climbing a socked-in Saddleback Mountain in terrible wind (60 MPH gusts) along with Spaulding, Sugarloaf, and the Crocker Mountains. The weather threatened rain constantly, but I stayed dry. While sheltering at Spaulding Mountain I was joined by the biggest bubble of NOBOs I've seen since the south, including Haiku, Sisyphus, Ketchup, Marshmallow, Peppa, Chef, Simba, Sole Power, G.O.A.T, and I think some others. I saw most of these folks in Stratton the following day, in addition to Mosey, Long Haul Trucker and Trail Bunny, Trip The Light, Grasshopper, Iron Will, and Cabo. It was strange to see so many NOBOs in one place again.As much as I like the company of my fellow NOBOs, I was intent on outpacing the bubble if only so I could enjoy less crowded shelters. I covered 22 miles the first day out of Stratton, topping the Bigelows and getting soaked in a thunderstorm en route to West Carry Pond. When I arrived I ran into Wildlife, who I hadn't seen since Tennessee, and Valley Girl, who I hadn't seen since Virginia! The next day 19 miles and change dispensed with a largely flat (and very mundane) section of trail, with the highlight being my crossing via ferry of the Kennebec River. At one time I toyed with the idea of fording it, but one look at that wide and swiftly flowing river was enough to convince me the ferry was the right call! The weather threatened rain but in the end it held off, and I spent the evening at Pleasant Pond Lean-To with Haiku (who caught me after a 27-mile day) and a group of fresh SOBOs.Yesterday began inauspiciously with an overcast sky and very humid and still air, but it turned into a lovely day. 22 miles on the nose took me over Pleasant Pond and Moxie Bald Mountains, and through three fords (Moxie Pond, Bald Mountain Stream, and the west branch of the Piscataquis). I hustled to reach the final ford as thunderstorms were forecasted and the Piscataquis can be dangerous in high rain, but I was blessed with fair weather and the ford was uneventful. I had the shelter at Horseshoe Canyon all to myself save for a late night arrival by Haiku.Today was a quick day, with an easy nine miles into Monson. When I arrived at the trailhead I called the good folks at the Lakeshore House (where I'm staying) who promptly retrieved me and returned me to civilization for the final time before I summit Katahdin (barring injury or illness). I have a great private room here, and have already enjoyed an obscenely large breakfast at the famous Pete's Place. I'd like to extend a huge shout-out to Trail Bunny, who ferried me, Haiku, and Grouch to Greenville to resupply and shop at the outfitter while she waited for her husband Long Haul Trucker to reach Monson. They're a wonderful couple and I'm typing this entry on their computer. Trail magic. I was also happy to run into Lunch. Lunch and I have been bumping into each other since Tennessee, and it was great to catch up and get some updates on folks ahead of and behind us. I hope to see him on Katahdin.God willing, one week from today I'll be a thru-hiker. I'm extremely eager to complete this journey and return home to those I love. As much as I've learned and grown over the past 4.5 months, I'm ready--VERY ready--to conclude this chapter in my life and begin a new one. That chapter will open at the summit of Katahdin. But first things first, bring on the 100-Mile Wilderness!