Date: 2003-07-24
From: Moxie Bald Shelter

To: Monson, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

I have never been so glad to get off the trail as I was today! But first things first: I AM IN MONSON. The last trail town before the 100 mile wilderness and Katahdin. And the AT must really love me and want to keep me from finishing, because it did everything in its power to keep me from getting here.Before the rain hit, we were having a grand time! After hiking the Mahoosucs and Saddlebacks solo, I met up with A-Train, Train of Elmer's, and TEAM IOWA (Mountain Jam, Chicken and Spork CT->ME) and have been with them pretty much since then. Highlights include the "Sugar Shack" .6 miles up Sugarloaf Mountain which offered a panoramic sunset and sunrise, dancing at the Plaza in Stratton to a live band, and swimming almost every day with or without clothes! Train and I are both big fans of skinny dipping, particularly because you have dry stuff to put on afterwards and SKIN IS WATERPROOF. My favorite swimming places by far were the little sandy beach at East Carry Pond and the rocks in front of Pierce Pond Shelter. The Bigelow mountains were fun and our last big peaks until the Big K.So...two days ago the rain hit, and unfortunately it hit us in lowland. The 22nd was a blast because I hit the Kennebec. The Kennebec, like all of Maine's rivers, has no bridge across it, but after a drowning and a few near misses the ATC commissioned ferrypeople to shuttle hikers across for 2 hours twice a day. My ferry was rowed by a cool-ass woman named Cory (with dog Sasha). After I waved the orange flag she came paddling across; everyone else was on the other side because I had dawdled to take a morning dip in Pierce Pond. She reached me and said, "So, I hear you're a strong swimmer. I'm not supposed to encourage you, but do you want to swim the river?" Apparently it is quite safe in low water. So, I loaded my pack on the boat and dove in. The current was pretty mild and I made it across in no time. It's nothing compared to the 1/2 mile across Walden Pond that I am used to :)Then we hit Caratunk and hitchhiked to the Northern Outdoor Center. I had heard a rumour of a hot tub, so as we sat down for lunch I asked our waitress, "So, what's the deal with the hot tub?" In no time, Train and I and SOBO's Meander and Sage had towels and were drinking beer (or water) in the industrial sized bubbly vat of hot water. When that got old, there was a pool and a volleyball net on the lower level, and showers, all for free! Apparently it was a good call to get there in the midday when all the rafting trips were out. And I had really good (menu said "Wicked good") fish and chips. Banner Day.But oh, the rain. Pleasant Pond Mt. and Moxie Bald were a bit slippery when wet, but I would take wet rocks any day over INTENSE RIVER CROSSINGS. Today I was up to my waist three times and up to my knees many more getting to Monson. When the torrential downpour (reminiscent of the one we had for three hours last night) started at about 11am, I just laughed and said, "Sorry man, I'm already soaking. Nothing you can do can be worse than what I already went through." (FYI, when life sucks God is a man, whether or not you believe in God it helps to have someone to curse.) But then He sent the mosquito hordes. Suffice it to say, I was very, very happy to get to town and a hot shower and screen doors.So for now, I am planning to stick with Team Iowa and People Named Train and do long days through the wilderness because the bugs are reportedly very numerous and bloodthirsty. But all this could change. Donkey and Cannoli are two days ahead, and Flick, Grunt, Journeyman and Squirts all summitted yesterday, I think, so Godspeed to them and to those behind me. The BBQ calls, but before I sign off I would like to send out a huge THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has been a support during this adventure, especially Mom, Dad, and Tania. However, Meredith Osborn wins the "Maildrop of the week" award for sending me fudge, butter toffee and whiskey from Scotland, none of which could top the letter which made me smile and cry all at once. Catch you on the flip side of Katahdin.