Quick on the Draw: Waterlands

This post covers the arrival into Maine, where the hiking continues to be demanding, but compensated for with some special moments, and reunions with some old trail friends.

Waterlands

Maine is beautiful and full of lakes to swim in. But the rain that fills the lakes also muddies the trail, and there are several rivers crossings which require caution after heavy rain. There are still plenty of mountains and wet rocks are not my favourite surface.

Into Maine at the end of the day, with some tricky elephant sized boulders to negotiate. An appetiser for the much more significant difficulties the next day.

When going through Mahoosic Notch (often referred to as the most difficult part of the trail), I commented to Happy Hour and Grasshopper that there must have been accidents on these massive boulders before, and that a rescue would be difficult. I later found out from Tomcat and Hotdog who came through not long after us, that they encountered a rescue team for someone with a dislocated shoulder. They were waiting for the helicopter.

Nice to encounter trail magic again from Moose boy and his sister, and their families. Moose boy, if you are reading this, you will remember that I said that I don’t usually draw big groups of people as it requires too much mental energy when I am tired. I’m afraid you are the casualty in this picture. I accidentally used the wrong colour and made more of a mess trying to correct it. Everyone else came out more or less okay!

A strange day as I encountered as many friendly chipmunks as I did to people; two!

A hard day and even stranger than yesterday. I saw more garter snakes (two), than people (one at the end of the day). I later found out that south bounders had been stuck behind swollen rivers.

I had wondered where Tomcat and Hotdog had got to as I had not seen them for weeks. At the end of the day they rolled into my tenting spot on the edge of Eddy Pond. The three of us had it all to ourselves and it was great to see them again.

I thought I was too tired to draw after a hard day…

At exactly the 2000 mile mark, I met Bossy Boy coming up the hill as I went down. He gave me a bracelet he had made, which I now think of as my 2000 mile award. Shortly before that, I met someone called Syrup going up the same difficult climb. She was doing it one-handed as the other hand was holding a cage. In it was her friend. Pancake, a pigeon.

I think you can see from this page that I was a little bit tired…

Roots, rocks, and mud. But a very memorable lunch break and end to the day.

A watery day: canoe crossing of the Kennebec river, and wet slippery rocks.

Another wet day, from rain and river crossings. Endless mud to negotiate, and unwelcome surprise extra miles at the end of the day. But welcome arrival at the famous Shaw’s hostel. (Pictured, slab caves on Bald mountain.)

And some photos:

You might think you are having a bad day…(video still courtesy of  Primo).

Greg, the ferryman with Maggie.

Sunset at Pierce Pond.

Ice Queen, Primo, QOTD, Hotdog, and Tomcat at East Carry Pond.

Waterlands!

I must do something to lighten that pack next time! Except I have promised there will be no next time…

This very large fly thought my socks smelled fantastic.

Yes, that is the way up…