Getting into the groove.

6:40pm @ the Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To
mi 123.5

Shelter all to myself tonight it seems. Cyndi Lopper stopped by for dinner. Last time I saw her was near the Pinkham Notch. She was having a bad day. Apparently after that she rented a car, then spent a week on the beach. She met her trail family in Monson, did the 100mi wilderness in 6 days, summited Katahdin, and is now walking SOBO for the last 150+ miles to complete the trip. Intense right? Was nice to see her healthy and happy.

Early night for me. Gonna get up at the crack of dawn and get into town. Would have loved to get there today, but trying for an 18mi day just when I am feeling better...on the back of yesterday's 13mi seemed like a poor decision. So, I got here to the shelter about 3:30pm, hung out with Loppers, ate dinner, hung my bear bag (good hang!) and will hit the hay. I want to get into that 100mi wilderness already. So much building up to it! Need to get'r done!

Also, the trail was beautiful today. Walked beside a river for 9 something miles. Icy Cold! I am loving this flat AT. Doing wonders at healing my poor sad knees!

Also, camped on a lake last night. Sounds of the Lunes all evening. We all woke up to watch the blood moon eclipse. Perfect viewing over the still waters at 10:45pm. Then we all got cold & went back to bed. It was only 45deg out. So. Yeah. We did our duty to the universe.

Glorious Solitude.

7:20pm @ Moxie Bald Mtn Lean-To
mi 132.4

There is a blood moon eclipse tonight. We think it start around 10:40pm. The moon rose over the lake as the sun set in the west. Very picturesque.

Two fast moving professionals came to the shelter as Walrus & I were talking. They are fast, charming, pretty and lite. The one guy will get through the 100mi wilderness in 4x days! I lost my slow moving zen and retreated to my tent.

The past two days have been great. Mountains are 'tiny' compared to what we have done already. Usually up and down in 3 hours or less. Lunches by lakes & streams. Dinner also.

I hung a bear bag, I am always the only one to do so, Am sleeping with my water filter now that it gets cold at night. Might start dropping below zero.

The wind is strong tonight. There are moose around. Hope I don't get squished by a tree.

Early start tomorrow?! Or take two days to Monson? Rain on Tuesday.....But it is 17.5 to Monson. I'm not sure  can hike that far in a day. But 8.9 to the next shelter isn't far enough either.....grrr. Oh well. Sleep now. Details tomorrow.

Day dream like it's your job.

Pleasent Pond Lean-To
mi 145.5

Spent two nearos at the Stirling Inn in Caratunk. The ferry over the Kennebec was really cool. Today I sat on a dock on a lake for 2 hours. Felt like 6. There was pressure in my body to 'keep moving! Don't be lazy wasting your life!' kind of feeling. But day dreaming on that lake was spiritual. Maybe the two extra miles would have been good to walk, but sitting on that dock is a memory I will carry for a long long time to come.

It's like a dream.

7pm @ Piece Pond Lean-To
mi 155.2

Actually walked 15 miles today!
Met two ladies from Quebec. Spoke some bad french. They spoke some bad english. Good times.

Beautiful day. Crazy nice. The trail was basically flat. I was flying. Towards the end of the day I got tired, but the view from my bed is well worth the effort.

Spending last night camped out on the lake was a dream. Sleeping, looking out at this view, is like a second chance to do it again! The loons will sing us good night.

Tomorrow a ferrymen will take me across the Kennebec River in Caratunk. Greatly looking forward to that, but I have to take up early for the pleasure. The river is much to wide & deep to ford, and there is a time window when the ferry will run. 9->11am!

Camping on a lake beach.

7:30 pm @ Flaggstaff Lake Tentsite.
mi 171.5

Currently in my test writing after watching the sun set over Flasgstaff lake where I took my afternoon & dinner.

A fellow hiker Waldo, a 19 year old guy, came by in the evening.

This afternoon here at the lake has been one of my favorite days on the trail. The weather was perfect. There were views. The trail was easy. My knees didn't hurt, and I had some peace with my speed.
Come to thing of it, until Waldo came around, I had not seen another thru-hiker all day. Only 3 odd day hikers in the morning.

So I was alone most of the day. Ha. That explains why I felt so at ease.

The moon is so bright one could almost read by it. Love this camp site.

Going to try for a 15mi day tomorrow.