Date: 2012-06-16
From: LakeShore House, Pub, and Laundromat

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 114.5
Weather: broken clouds

If you are ever in Monson, ME you must stay at Lakeshore House. Rebekah will hug you upon arrival, call you "poor things" and hound you until you get in the shower and then don some of her random collection of hiker-clean-borrower clothes. After a decent haul through the 100-mile wilderness, it felt like an angel was receiving us.She also has a hiker re-supply room with a modest assortment of accoutrements. Everything is on the honor system. She just asks that you let her know when you wrap up what amount to add to your bill if you happened to grab anything else.I wish the world in general still operated on the honor system.*side note* Carpe, a very nice gentlemen sitting across from me gave us a ride to town for re-supply yesterday. He stopped by an outfitter. With a coffee shop attached. I just mentioned how I'm dreaming about espresso because of it. He corrected me and says: "No, you're FANTASIZING about espresso." I concur, Carpe, I concur.The one hundred mile wilderness.DAMN.A rough way to start a thru-hike but on the up side, my calves are going to have calves. True story.Also, Maine = MUD, BOGS, and BUGS. Just fyi for future reference.We stayed at the following lean-tos/campsites:Katahdin Stream Campgrounds, BSPAfter the coldest summit EVER (sleet, snow, and 40 mph winds) and getting off the mountain just at dark, I can now proudly say I have climbed it twice.I totally mowed down on a homemade sandwich and some cheetos at the summit (thank you, Debby )Hurd Brook Lean To (Should be called hurting brook lean to...)We passed Abol bridge and the small convenience store on the way here. I was ecstatic to note that the payphone I used to call home in 2007 was no longer there. I decided to be very Blues Brothers about it and take it as a sign from God. And now I'm on a mission from God hehehe.Rainbow Stream Lean To (wow, a beautiful place!)The entire hike here was literally moose muck. Mud to the hip bone if you fall in. It was the most intense connect the dots log-to-log hopping game EVER. Like 3 hours worth. And then we rounded the bend and spied Rainbow Stream. So so gorgeous.The "beach" one mile after Potaywadjo Lean-To (buggy, not the best idea)We met Listen, Next Time, Little Foot, Anchor (Lou) and Gilly the Brazilian. The first mountain post Katahdin was on the way there. Kind of a doozy. We decided to try for the next Lean To and about a mile and a half down the trail, we decided to call it a day.White House Landing (yes, we caved, blew the foghorn and got a hot shower) Now, I like to believe it was providence that led us to make the decision to stop here when we did. We hiked a mile past Mahar Tote Road (where you make a Left if SOBO and hike .8 miles to a dock where you blow a foghorn attached to a tree and you are picked up by boat, and ferried across the lake to Whitehouse Landing.)Anyway, we decided to turn back and we got picked up just as a freaking monsoon hit. It was nice to be warmly dressed, eating homemade pizza while watching a storm rage outside. Also, playing an epic round of Trivial Pursuit shortly thereafter was kind of like icing on the cake, so to speak.Cooper Brook Falls Lean ToLogan Brook Lean ToCarl A. Newhall Lean ToChairback Gap Lean ToCloud Pond Lean ToLeeman Brook Lean ToLakeShore House, Pub and Laundromat where the slogan is "Clean her in front, liquor in the back and lay on top" LOL LOL LOL (keep in mind the laundromat is in the foyer of the house, the pub out back on the dock of the lake and the hostel is upstairs...)