Date: 2015-08-24
From: East Branch Lean-to

To: Potaywadjo Spring Lean-to
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: few clouds

I wonder what Potaywadjo means. The spring at this shelter is SPECTACULAR. It is brisk and beautiful, a large clear pool of beautiful water.In other news, I AM SO SICK OF BEING WET. THIS WEATHER SUCKS.Aghhh.I was very lucky and managed to keep dry during my midnight pee. Somehow I chose to go at the same time as a lull in the rain.I got up and got packed. We had agreed to have a bucket party, so I waited for everyone else to get their things together. We headed off in a hiker line to the river crossing 0.3 miles up the trail. Trying to save myself trouble, I decided that I would wear my camp shoes to the crossing, so I wouldn't have to take off my boots and then put them back on.OF COURSE, when I got there, we could just ROCK HOP ACROSS. I could have just worn my boots from the beginning!I crossed after Silent Force, then the Aussie Legs, and Iso came over as I put on my boots. Then we hiked! We leapfrogged all over the place and eventually made it to the road where OUR BUCKETS WERE. Hooray! We ripped open those buckets and filled our packs and SNACKED.Gertrude became painfully full and made my shoulders so sore. Also, she sat with a lot of her weight on my sore tailbone. It was not fun.The trail, however, was FLAT FLAT FLAT and wonderful after the bucket graveyard.The miles went by so fast! Eventually it got a bit rockier and rootier and more slippery. But still, I managed to move at an incredible pace.We all stopped at the next shelter and chatted and snacked. Then we continued on. For a while I was sandwiched between Silent Force and the Aussie Legs.And then I had to pee. But I had to wait until Firebear and Muddy Duckling were far enough behind me that they wouldn't catch up and spot me squatting. A HORRIBLE DILEMMA. They were fairly far behind me but still within sight. Eventually, though, they stopped to wait for Redback, or to eat lunch. And I was free to pee! Hooray!It rained on and off all morning, but the rain was a drizzle at best.But then, in the early afternoon, the rain started to pick up a little. And then I reached a stream. Silent Force was ahead of me, eyeing it. There was a rope strung across it. The water was high. It did NOT look like there was a good way to rock-hop across.IT WASN'T IN THE BOOK (as a stream that you needed to ford). And the rope across it was an indicator that it had to be forded regularly. Or at least often.UGH. WHY?! I HATE HAVING TO TAKE OFF MY BOOTS.But I did. I slogged barefoot across the river. And then I put my shoes back on. 300 feet later, past some trees, was another stream."ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" I cried. I had just put my shoes back on. And the rain was starting to come down harder.I managed to rock-hop across this time, though.And then it started to POUR. I needn't have even taken my boots off to cross that stream, because I ended up SOAKED. Water ran down my legs and right into my boots. I slogged down the trail, at first trying to avoid the puddles but eventually giving up and splish-splashing right through. The trail became red with dead pine needles floating about on the surface of the puddles.It was quite a long rain. It was warm and pleasant, and I enjoyed the idea that I was getting cleaner. I'm not sure if it was actually true, but...Also I was sick of being wet. I AM sick of being wet. The rain makes the air so heavy that everything gets wet.2:00 is when I start to hit a wall lately. I get tired. And even more tired. I drink water. I eat a snack. The trail isn't hard. But I am so tired.There was a TINY hill during the last two miles. It seemed hard even though it was barely there!I need to drink more and eat less. I do pee a lot, though.The realization that I have my emergency money to spend at the Abol Campsite store had led me to think "I CAN ALWAYS BUY MORE SNACKS" which means "I CAN EAT ALL THE SNACKS!".THIS IS DANGEROUS.SO.DANGEROUS.I got to the shelter before 3, and hung up a line to dry my clothes. I am pretty sure that there is zero hope that they will ever dry. Tomorrow will be another day of gross wet feet.I had a nice dinner and extra snacks and I can tell my butt is still bigger but I DON'T CARE. I will go on a diet in September.The shelter tonight has been incredibly busy. Many hikers dropped by and then continued on. The shelter is fairly full. I am glad that I arrived early enough to claim a spot out of the wet. I am SO SICK OF BEING WET.I wish that I could have an hour of time at night before bedtime when everyone would be quiet so that I could read my book. But by the time everyone quiets down, I am too tired to read.I keep thinking of all the things that I will do and won't do that will be different from the trail.I won't have to carry my food on my back all day.I won't have to put on wet, stinky clothes every morning.I won't spend eight hours a day walking and climbing.I eventually won't be starving all the time.I will be able to eat off of a plate.I will be able to EFFECTIVELY bathe with hot water.I will be able to use my electric toothbrush.I will be able to sleep in a real bed.I don't know if all of these are good things or bad things. I will not miss being dirty. I will miss the fresh, cool air.I will NOT MISS BEING WET.I am always so tired. Having my trail family around is very nice. I love seeing them throughout the day. I love talking to them during the night. It is amazing how they do really feel like family.I do miss being alone sometimes, though. At the same time, I think that it's better to have them around. Otherwise I might be super ridiculously self-absorbed and emotional about the approaching end of the journey.Instead, they distract me with stories and plans for food parties at Abol and Katahdin.I am thankful that I am (mostly) dry in the shelter right now. I am thankful that my chores are done and my tummy is full. I am thankful that the rain has stopped and that there might be a break from the rain tomorrow.