Date: 2007-09-14
From: Pierce Pond Lean-to ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2018.8

To: Caratunk, ME ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ US 201 ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ 2022.8
Miles today: 4.0

Day 163 ¢ 9/14/07Start: Pierce Pond Lean-to ¢ 2018.8 End: Caratunk, ME ¢ US 201 ¢ 2022.8Day Miles: 4We started out early with Shadow and I leading and lost the trail in a maze of side trails around Harrison¢s. There was a 4 way intersection and the trail went straight thru but with a slight bend you could not see it so it appeared to be a ¢T¢. There were no blazes to be seen and Harrison¢s was to the right so we went left. After 100 yards there was another ¢T¢ and no blazes. I searched left and Shadow went right. I hit a fork in about 100¢ with a sign AT Corridor Boundary. I followed this until it dead-ended at a shack. I looped back and called out to Shadow who had started back tracking. When we got back to the first ¢T¢ we discovered it was a poorly marked 4-way. By this time the girls had passed us and found the right trail. Shadow put it into high gear to catch them. My knees were killing me from the fall yesterday so I throttled back and took in the views. There were numerous little side trails out to a series of falls that parallel the trail along here. I took a few of them out and back to see the falls. I was struggling over taking my time or rushing. I knew the crew would wait for me at the ferry. I should have told them to go on to the Post Office where they had packages to pickup and I did not.Somewhere along the way I lost my now famous Red, White, and Blue do-rag (bandana). I had worn this biking in France and all along the trail. Other hikers spotted me at Trail Days from a distance when I wore it. It had become somewhat of a trademark for me and now it was gone. I doubled back for about a 14 mile but did not find it. I was ready to head back to the lean-to but I did not want to keep the group waiting. I was conflicted over hiking with the group. Not just this group but any group or anyone. I have hiked with a partner for almost the entire trail mostly by choice and sometimes not. There are both rewards and costs. I am so close to the end and I worry about getting hurt. The fall yesterday was from trying to go too fast and it could have ended my hike. Leaving my bandana behind was a huge loss for me. I had already lost the one I climbed Alpe D¢Huez with and another one I had owned for years. As I turn around and head for the ferry I have made the decision to hike alone for the remainder of the trip. I need to finish this thing at my pace and on my terms.The Whiteblaze Hiker feed is in Monson tomorrow. I have taken 9 zeros and I planned on taking 10 when I hit Monson. My plan now is to hitch to Monson and zero for the hiker feed and then hitch back to Caratunk. When I get to the ferry Dean is manning the canoe. When I talk to him he tells me he is headed to Monson tonight and will give me a ride up. Steve may also go up Saturday night and would give me a ride back. I have to hang around until after Dean gets off ferry duty sometime after 3:00 pm.I went to the Post Office with the crew and told them that I had to starting hiking at my pace. I still would love to camp with them at night if it works out but I have to be on my own during the day. Dean gave us a ride to Steve¢s and then on to the Northern Outdoor Center & Brew Pub for lunch. Marco Solo and I rode up with Dean to Monson where I set-up my tent on the ball field with other hikers.