Date: 2018-08-25
From: East Carry Pond stealth site 

To: Caratunk B&B Hostel
Miles today: 10.2

Last night was spectacular sleeping by the lake and I woke around 5am to the sound of loons. I stretched in my tent and packed everything up before having a cold cereal breakfast again with River, Twister and Chad the Dad. While eating breakfast and orange glow came thru the trees so we all went out to the trail and took pictures of the sunrise and mist on the lake. I wish I could wake up to something so natural and beautiful every day. It was a perfect morning when I hit the trail, the first one out of camp. I love the smell of ponds, lakes and rivers. I had the trail to myself. I passed by ET packing up her site about a quarter mile up trail but saw no one else for miles except the person on the opposite shore who waived to me as I crossed a couple of bog bridges. There was some beautiful trail today, a pine needle path which is my favorite! But there was also lots of roots, rocks and mud. About 2 miles before I reached the shore of the Kennebec River I passed 3 older hikers. At the River I met Rob the ferry man. The Kennebec is perhaps the most formidable unbridged crossing on the AT and the ATC provides free ferry service to hikers between 9am and 2pm. I arrived at 11:45 and watched Rob cross several hikers as I waited for River. I was becoming concerned and asked the late arrival to our camp last night if they'd seen her and they thought she was perhaps 20 more minutes out. They introduced themselves as Electrolyte and Noodle Harvester. Very pleasant couple. Then the 3 older hikers arrived and shortly behind them River. I talked with one of the older hikers, he's from Washington State. He was hiking this section with his sister and her husband but was finished and headed back to his car in Stratton tomorrow. I mentioned that my trail friend Twister was in need of a ride back to his car in Stratton also. But he didn't offer and we didn't exchange information other than where they're staying tonight. When Rob crossed us he came ashore and drew a map in the sand to our hostel and the Boy Scout trail magic. So of course we went there 1st and enjoyed a soda, burger and hotdog. From there we walked the .3 to the Caratunk Hostel where I was welcomed by Paul who had my package. I got checked in, got a coffee milkshake and sat in a rocker on the porch watching Gibson the cat show hikers how to take a lawn nap. One other hiker did the same. I logged into the WiFi and was able to get Brian's text messages and let him know I'm at the hostel. It was an awesome thing that Brian had called to make the reservation here for us because when Paul went to get my box from the post office, which I confirmed yesterday was in and authorized Paul to pick it up and it wasn't there. Paul and Brian worked on getting my footloose package back to the post office and in Paul's hands. Apparently it wasn't removed from the truck and it took a wild ride, having to be intercepted and trucked back to Caratunk for Saturday morning. Paul said Brian was really nice, which if course I already know, and that I should bring him back some day for a visit. Paul, Bonny and Jason are amazing. It's wonderful what this hostel does for hikers. It's clean, homey, comfortable and the service is 5 star. Our laundry was done within 1.5 hours of us bringing it in. A clean towel was on each bed and the shower was good and hot. Paul has a resupply that knocked my socks off and includes special order items such as dehydrated vegetables all well priced and in small baggies. I think if Paul didn't have what you needed he'd find a way to get it because he's devoted to hikers. At 5:30 we were shuttled to Northern Outdoors for dinner at our request. The service and food were not good but the company was. We shuttled and ate with Cribbage and Noodle Harvester and they were very enjoyable. We saw Twister and I told him about the 3 older hikers and that they were driving one back to his car tomorrow in Stratton and where they were staying. Twister called the place and described the people explaining he needed a ride and would fill their gas tank. They called him back and Twister bought me a beer. Glad that worked out! We got back to the hostel around 8pm and I tucked myself in and journaled. Breakfast promises to be awesome and I hope so because all I can smell is the pork that is slow cooking at 250° in the oven and it's making me hungry. The hostel has walk up food service, milkshakes and pulled pork sandwiches. Hope I don't sleep walk down to the kitchen!