Date: 2013-09-03
From: Pierce pond lean to

To: caratunk
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: few clouds

9.3.13 Tuesday - day 156Pierce pound lean-to - Caratunk3.7 miles - 1.5 hoursFirst to wake & leave lean-to, foggy morning, grey blue sky. Followed rock dam around pond to forest where path follows brook & falls. Can see 6 foot drops in brook. muddy slippery again, water crossings plentiful including one 10 feet over raging brook, one round log across it with logs on both sides at knee level. Several side trails to see falls & cascading streams. Steep switch backs to Kennebec river below, the brook we were following all morning finally descends to river to our right where it fans out into wide shallow over stones before gently joining the river. I am first to arrive, followed by Octagon, snap pics of river with fog top mountain in back, then someone opposite bank waves, disappears into woods then emerges with red canoe, paddles over, introduces himself as Hillbilly Dave, super thick Maine accent, shows us white blaze on floor of canoe, says its the only moving white blaze on trail. Just before departing, Flaxseed runs down out of woods to shore yelling something i cannot hear due to waves. At shore he said I have your rain jacket, turned around & there it was strapped to top of his pack. It was hanging from back of my pack this morning, must have gotten snagged and fell. Thank goodness he got it & tracked me down just in time. Will definitely need it next couple weeks. As much as things go wrong on the trail, is amazing how other time things just seem to go right and work themselves out at the right place and right time. I've witnessed this few times already. We sign waiver, put on life jackets, Hillbilly & I paddle 70 yards, current moving from left to right, to other side. As we crossed we see the Professor & Grizzly emerge from woods on opposite bank. What a cool experience, just a simple canoe ride but i have been looking forward to this unique part of the trail. Only one canoe is used to transfer all nobos & sobos across, canoe is actual part of trail. Goodbye to Hillbilly Dave, we follow his instructions, cross road straight ahead main street, painted sign reads Caratunk 1812, we pass old simple homes with years from the 1800's posted on the front of each. Cross bridge over round rock lined stream to post office right side. I call for shuttle, Rowhawk, Moose, Grazelle arrive, followed by Grizzly, Professor. To the Sterling Inn, white large old fashioned house with wrap around covered porch. Inside we see photos black white of house olden times with dirt stage coach road in front when it served tourists in that era. Antique wood burning stoves & other old decorative elements remain as well. Every room has a unique country/outdoors theme as well as different handmade quilts on each of the many beds. Also there are as many bathrooms/showers as there are rooms so you dont have to wait in line. We meet Eric the proprietor, new owner who fixed up the place turned around struggling business. Still Here is here doing work for stay, hanging new Sterling sign on wood post near road. Shower, laundry, call home for last food drop in Monson, hang pack wet boots on porch in sun. Shuttle to Northern Outdoors for lunch. Mama Goose is there! With Walking off the War group, started with 14, now 4 remain including her, good for them. Beetle juice, Wilson, Mother Theresa, Peaches at bar. Moose, Rowhawk, Grazelle in brewery downstairs. Grab seats near sliding doors where we can see hot tub on porch just outside. Order Kennebec brewery beer sampler, 5 small beers: white, blueberry (they float 3 real blueberries in the glass), Octoberfest, IPA & porter. Fried haddock sandwich. Rains hard outside 45 minutes then stops. shuttle back to hostel for nap. Wake up, pack up, Jumper tells me he tried to Ford river today but current got strong, water level got deep & slippery so he turn around. Frozen pizza dinner, sodas, Ben Jerry ice cream. Sleepy time.