Date: 2014-09-14
From: West Carry Pond

To: Caratunk
Miles today: 14.0

In which I woke up singing....Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day......The rain stopped at some point during the wee hours of the morning while the wind picked up. The once calm, flat, peaceful pond in front of the shelter has been overtaken by white caps and waves splashing up against the rocks on the shore line. This was quite a dramatic change from last evening. Despite all of this I had a song stuck in my head. "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way." Even though the temp. was around freezing, the wind was fiercely blowing and it was still cloudy it felt like a wonderful day already. Excitement was in the air. I was just happy to be hiking, to be in Maine and quickly I had the realization that this adventure is all too fast coming to an end. It still feels both exciting and sad. I have days remaining instead of months. I've passed the 2000 mile mark and now have less than 160 miles to hike. I crave the luxury of my pillow but yearn to keep the simplicity of life on the trail. There is a beauty in this simple life and I want to carry that in to my "real" life. Although I'm not really sure what "real" life means or looks like anymore. I don't feel ready to go back to that life.I feel such a complicated mix of emotions which I can't even begin to process. Right now though I am on a mission. I'm on a mission to hike to Katahdin! So that means today I have to make it to the ferry crossing, which is the official trail, btwn 2-4pm. And I did. I made it to the river by 2pm with 10 other hikers waiting to cross the Kennebec River. That was quite a sight. I haven't seen that many hikers in one stop in a long time. Where has everyone been? A bald eagle was circling overhead too.On the other side of the river I could see my parents waiting. When it was our turn we hopped into the canoe after signing a waiver where I got the middle seat. The current was really strong and the wind continued to blow. We were ferried up stream along the shore before heading across the river to let the current carry us down to the landing site. This was really cool and fun.The terrain today was pretty flat relatively speaking. It also was a pond hop, W. Carry to Eddy to Carry to Pierce Pond and so forth. The loons were out swimming and it was wonderful to listen to them calling. It's my favorite!It also ran into Messy and Lost Boy who I hadn't seen in days. That was great to catch up with them. I really enjoy their company. I took a quick break at Pierce pond. It was a really beautiful spot. All the ponds today have been beautiful. They are so pure and unspoiled, raw, gorgeous and pristine surrounded by mountains on the horizon and occasionally a peek of blue sky and sun. I was on a moose hunt but again none were seen. Plenty of poop everywhere though, some very fresh. I did also see 2 piles of bear scat which I hadn't seen in a while.It just was a wonderful, fun day. I'm so grateful to be out here hiking and living this simple, wonderful life with great people with crazy names and eating food I would never eat in "real" life.Oh what a beautiful day it has been. I'm another day closer to Katahdin and this all seems a little surreal! I get to eat real food tonight and sleep with a pillow....life is good!