Day 13: stealth campsite to different stealth campsite
Miles today: 12.8
Total miles: 139.5
Nothing too notable to report on. The main takeaway from this day was at the end of the day when I took my pack off and walked my butt felt stronger and bigger. Too much information? I guess all that walking is finally giving me some muscle!
Day 14: stealth campsite under power lines to northern outdoors caratunk Maine
Miles today: 11.9
Miles total: 151.2
Today was a great day full of surprises. It started out with a climb up pleasant mountain. It was four miles to the summit which wasn’t horrible but there were at least three false summits which was frustrating each time we discovered we were not at the top. Once there the view was beautiful. There were tons of blueberry bushes the whole way up but unfortunately there was only one or two ripe blueberries. We took a two week anniversary photo at the top. It’s crazy how quickly time has passed.
The rest of the day was downhill pretty much for the next eight miles. At the bottom of the mountain was pleasant pond where we of course had to stop. It was the first pond or lake we have stopped at where there have been other non hikers. This one even had houses and jet skiers on it. We took a quick dip and had lunch on the dock followed by 45 minutes of napping in the sun. It’s a real tough life as a thru hiker.
Then we walked the rest of the way to caratunk. Our plan was to camp right by town then go to the post office to pick up food boxes in the morning (can’t today bc it’s Sunday) and then catch the ferry across the kennebec river. Our plans are dictated by this ferry as its part of the trail but only runs 9 to 11 am or 2 to 4 pm. As we got to caratunk we decided it’d be nice to get into town and grab a beer as we’d read there’s a brewery and then come back and camp.
We read there was a free phone outside the post office 0.3 down the road. From there we could call for a free shuttle to bring us to the restaurant and brewery (where we might also atay at this point as they have tent aites). We set about finding the phone but walked about a mile down the blazing hot road to no avail. We then reread the info and the post office was down a road practically at the trailhead. We’d have to walk the mile back. And then call. And then wait for the shuttle.
Brittani and I decided to try to hitchhike. We figured its easier to do as girls anyway. We waited a while for cars to pass in the right direction and the third or fourth car stopped! Of course with my luck it was a white van that you imagine kidnapping people but hey at least someone stopped. We got in and it was three guys our age who are rafting guides. We sat by their paddle boards in the back of the van while all three (driver included) sipped on beers as they drove us the few miles down the road. One was actually from Lexington mass which was cool.
We got to northern lights and it was like walking into heaven. A big log cAbin and a bar and restaurant and big TVs and a pool and porch and hot tub. It was great. We sat and got a couple freshly brewed beers that were so delicious and waited for the boys. They showed up a few min later. Someone had stopped for them. We decided to tent at this place for only eight bucks each and full use of their amenities. We all got big burgers and beers and were so full we could barely move. We of course then had to lug ourselves over to the hot tub. Once there we chatted with a group who were very interested and excited we are thru hikers. They are here rafting (in their own boats) an after talking for a bit they invited us to join them tomorrow! They switched around their plans just to make room for us out of the goodness of thei hearts. We got so excited! Free rafting trip! Rather than the $80 a person one this resort runs. We capped off the night with a big brownie sundae and ice cream sandwich sundae. We even get to sleep in layer than usual tomorrow for rafting. We are so lucky and strangers have been so kind to us. This trip has already repeatedly restored my faith in the goodness of others. Well I gotta get to bed its way past my bedtime. 930!!! Night.
Update: it’s the next morning and we found out one of the people who had offered to take us rafting hurt their hand since we last saw them. So they can’t take all of us any more and can only take two. Don’t think I’ll get to go but that just means I get to hang out at this resort place a bit longer which I’m not complaining about. Then off hiking again later in the day!