Miles: 10.4 (plus 0.2 side trip)
I slept better last night than any other night on the Trail. It was just so refreshing! Got to catch up on some e-mails this morning and called home! It's kind of odd to talk with people at home about your experiences because how do you translate what it's like to be wet, sore, hungry for real food, stinky, dirty, but, at the same time, you're having a wonderful experience? I think hiking just makes me realize how much I shouldn't take for granted. The breakfast we had this morning wouldn't have tasted so delicious if I hadn't been hiking the day before. In the same regard, the flat parts of the Trail wouldn't be so welcome if I hadn't just gone straight uphill.
I think backpacking is about teaching people to appreciate the basics, because, so often, we aren't taught that... or just forget what it's like when you have to give serious thought about food, water and shelter each day. So, that lesson number one that I picked up after 2 weeks on the Trail :)
We barely made the "ferry" (consisting of a river guide and a canoe) across the Kennebec River. It only runs for 2 hours in the monrning, so if you miss it, you're screwed and have to wait until the next day. We cut it close because I forgot my sleeping pad at the Caratunk House and had to run back. Phew!
There was a large group in front of us, so we waited for almost an hour to cross the river - that sucked. So, we didn't get started on the Trail until 11:30. We were hoping to go 15 miles to the next lean-to, but realized we didn't have enough sunlight. Additionally, there was a large thunderstorm headed our way and it's just no fun to get stuck in those! So, we pushed on past the first lean-to we got to (after taking a side trail to a lemonade stand - what a great idea!). The plan was then to get to the sandy beach of East Carry Pond. That's where we are now - in an illegit campsite. Naughty us. Didn't want to stay at the first lean-to because of the large group there; although, we could have spend some more time with another couple we met, Medicine Man and Sunshine. Anyway, we got to this "site" in the nick of time. Right after putting up our tent and wolfing down dinner, the sky opened up and the storms came. It sounds like it'll rain off and on all night, but I'm hoping that it'll clear up by tomorrow.
We debated about pushing it to Avery lean-to tomorrow - a 19-mile day with 3 mountains. We decided not to and are just going to Little Bigelow lean-to, only 12 miles up from where we are. The main reason is that Avery is above treeline and, thus, has limited campsites because you have to set up on platforms. It's also popular because of the gorgeous sunrise and sunset from the peaks, so it's recommended to get there early, which we couldn't do.
I'm tired, so until tomorrow...
- Slacker Bobo