Date: 2018-09-11
From: Pierce Pond

To: Pleasant Pond
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Damn it rained hard last night ...and was still coming down steady when my alarm* went off. Happy to be in a dry old cabin with a wood burning stove. (Wait...My last two entries have been ¢oh so happy¢...let me shift gears a minute and tell ALL about the trail life. The first thing I had to do at 6am was put on my raincoat and trudge up to the bathhouse. Night before last, I got to camp late, cooked up an ancient price chopper Alfredo pasta dinner that tasted lousy, and went to bed. Late last night that pasta finished working over my innards and boy was I happy to have access to a flushing commode. Over the next 4 hours I would visit several times. It ain¢t all beautiful vistas and enchanted forests out here. Sometimes it¢s a load of crap.)Anyway, after finding early relief and feelin¢ empty, I headed back through the rain to the main lodge. Hot fresh coffee - Yum! Then an enormous breakfast: 3 eggs (over medium), 4 sausage links, and TWELVE pancakes (with apples, blueberries & raspberries in them). One of the best breakfasts I¢ve EVER eaten. {will post a picture} With the rain coming down, was in no rush to get moving. Sat talking the Tim, Dick, and Kathy for hours. At 10:30am, with the rain slackening, decided to go pack up the gear and head north. Crossed the stream and rolled a few miles before running into the aptly named ¢Late Start¢. We chatted as we walked to the Kennebec River and saw Greg the ferry man coming across in his canoe. His ¢Old Town¢ has a white blaze painted on it as this is the official ATC crossing method (two more deaths already this year from foolish folks that tried to ford it). We put on our life jackets and I had the ¢pleasure boating seat¢ in the middle whilst the other two paddled. Very cool. (Even cooler: Greg¢s book, sitting under his tarp, was the same book I¢m reading about this area: Kenneth Roberts ¢Arundel¢. Thanks again for the recommendation,Tom.)We left the banks of the Kennebec and walked into Caratunk. A small town (population 76) but home of the terrific hiker staple, the Caratunk House. Stopped in, shook off the rain, and ordered the pulled pork sandwich and an awesome strawberry milk shake. (Also picked up a half pound of sharp cheddar and some chocolate) Hung out there at the Caratunk B&B for two hours talking with Gusher (he was taking a zero and heading over to the Kennebec to trout fish), Late Start, Bluegrass, Crunchy, Breezy and a couple flip floppers. Everyone was enjoying the dry, friendly confines. At 2:35, I finished using the WiFi (uploading last two days journal and lots of texts), bid farewells, and start walking down the road. My destination lay 5.7 miles uphill and wanted to make camp before dark. The damp trail is one of my favorites and though overcast, the rain had stopped. Walked in shirt sleeves along a small stream for miles. Delightful. Made good time and found a tent spot just up the hill from Pleasant Pond. Made camp, ate good food, and climbed into the tent as darkness fell at 7:30. The loons are calling as I type this and I¢m ready to sleep. Two mountains are on tomorrow¢s walk, they stand like bookends starting and finishing the trek. Will need strength to get within striking distance of Monson (gateway to the ¢100 Mile Wilderness¢) lying 30 miles ahead. *Song of the Day: when my phone alarm went off it played ¢Early Morning Rain¢ by Gordon Lightfoot. Laying in the cabin, listening to the rain, miles from home, it was perfect. (For the first verse anyway, then I had to run to the crapper!)Life is Amazing. Keep walking!