Date: 2006-07-21
From: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To

To: ME Rte. 15 - Monson, ME
Miles today: 9.0
Weather: scattered clouds

DAY 137 - When I went to bed last night I had decided to sleep in this morning, but I woke up at my usual time of 5 AM. So I rolled over and went back to sleep. Finally got up at 6, found the privy and the spring, and had a leisurely breakfast of chocolate chip poptarts, peanut butter and honey, and freeze-dried peaches (partially rehydrated). Sky is overcast, temp is mild. I'm ready to pack up and get to Monson.2 PM at Shaw's Boarding House - Got here about 11 AM, checked in, and went to the Post Office. Monson is a small village adjoining a lake of summer cabins. Tourism seems to be the main business. I am in a bunkroom with 6 beds, in the upstairs of an old frame house. Have already claimed a bed, showered, and washed clothes. I am sorting out my food to see what to carry for 4 days, what to send home, and what to give away. I'll have to buy a few things here but not much. All my expected packages arrived at the P.O., plus a box of praline bars from Mom and Mary Dew, along with several letters. Hard to believe this is the last mail I'll get till I get home.5 PM - My timing was pretty good today. While I was washing clothes and doing misc. chores a shower came up, but it stopped about 3 PM. Forecast for tomorrow is occasional showers. I shouldn't complain, because the weather has been great since the Whites - no daytime rain to speak of. I have may have more mud and bugs next week, but I guess I'm overdue for my share of less-than-ideal weather.Most of my chores are done - shopping, mailing boxes, sending post cards, sorting and repacking food for the next 4 days. I ate a late lunch at the Monson General Store - cheeseburger and fries - with the owner and another local who mows r-o-w for the state. Interesting to sit arond the modern equivalent of the pot-bellied stove in a small New England town and talk with locals about the Trail, their jobs, my job, etc. Going back tonight to listen to live music - mostly bluegrass, they say. So far I am the only NOBO here. A couple more SOBO's have come in after me, and I expect more will arrive before dark. Some are conscientious about hiking and ask lots of questions about what's ahead. Others don't seem competent enough to have gotten this far, much less Springer Mtn. I predict half of the guys here will quit before they finish the Whites.I opted for the hiker breakfast that Shaw's offers in the morning - eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and blueberry pancakes. A full stomach is a good way to start the 100 mile wilderness.9 PM - I'm back at Shaw's after a great meal at the Lakeshore Pub - seafood lasagna enjoyed outside, actually by the lake. Two other hikers joined me, and we had some interesting conversations with several locals, all very friendly. After dinner was one of the highlights of the whole trip - a totally unexpected treat of small-town Americana. Every Friday night the locals get together and play music at the Monson General Store, which itself is almost an anachronism - Wal-Mart on a Mayberry scale. The instruments were several guitars, a couple of fiddles, a harmonica, and a banjo. They played mostly old favorites with a blue grass theme. It was wonderful; like the Open Hoot at the Down Home moved to the Shamrock, without admission. Got to talk to Jane and find out when I'm scheduled to fly home. I won't be rushed to finish, which is good, but if I finish on schedule I'll have about 2 and a half days to get to Bangor - more than enough time.