Monson, into the 100 mile wilderness.

Today is a beautiful day. We started out to find a deli for breakfast, knowing there must be one in Monson we drove up. We ended up eating in the General Store. It brought back so many memories.

The General store caters to just about ever hiker that makes it this far on the trail. This is the jumping off place for the 100 mile wilderness. Up until now on the trail the hikers could figure on restocking their supplies every 30-40 miles. Now they face a hundred miles of no supply points. As I sat there I remembered my Uncle Irving's general store in Laurens, SC. Do you remember charging stuff as ayoungster, or telling the store owner to 'put it on the books'. the Store owners sold on the credit, and the bill were religiously paid on pay day.

The store had several hikers stocking up. The Store owner had just finished showing them the cash register he used for years. I asked the guys. Tinman & Stretch to stand there. 'Cricket' was shopping I asked her to stand so I could get theem all in one picture.

This was our cook, I had a deli sandwich and Sherry got a plate. It was delicious.

Here is a local customer, guess what? He asked the owner to 'put it on the book'. remember the candy jars? I love this!!! We asked the hikers if they needed a ride, they wern't ready to head to the trail so Sherry and I headed out of town.

We decided to hike an hour South to Doutry lake. It was a great hike. Sherry was ahead of me and I spotted an old building site.

It doesn't show up here, except the old stove pipe, but there are disentegrated boards and roofing indicating at one time it was a building. It is beside a nice book. I imagined it was a trapper or loggers shack at one time. My imagination runs wild.

Here is the small brook flowing beside the old home site.

On to the Pond. the only way you see these lakes is walk. The area is prestine. I saw one canadian goose, he went under and I never saw where he came up.

We sat on the bank and just talked and relaxed awhile. I told Sherry about the old shack site and we stopped on the way back out.

As we sat there i noticed these orange mushrooms. Not bothering anyone.

And these bright red ones.

Ah,ha, 'Tortoise' and 'Noah' her dog caught up with us. she is hiking solo with Noah, his real name by the way. She is 'slack packing' as it is called when you do not carry your normal 'stuff'. she says Noah usually carries ten pounds in his saddle packs. He was happily walking light today. I love the Golden retrievers, they will love you to death.

As we talked, lo and beholed another OLD couple came up. They were also slack packing. this is 'Packman' and 'Detour'. This couple years have been hiking the trail 17 years on their vacations. They still have 700 miles to go. They all headed on down the trail ahead of us.

I told Sherry, do you notice when folks pass us they leave us in the dust? BUT this trail has about a quarter mile of BOGS, we caught with them soon. Above is my girl. She has moved off the trail, which here is solid rock, She is walking in the reindeer moss, it looks like snow. She loves the feel of carpet.

I guess the Monson area is known for it's slate. Notice here is pieces of slate used as we use gravel. We headed back to the Monson area figuring the guys we metthat morning had already hit the trail, NO, there they were on the road looking for a ride. We loaded Tinman and Stretch into the Van and headed back to the trail. SAid good by to them and wished them luck on the wilderness trip. Back into town. Hey is that 'Cricket?' Yep, There she is in front of the General store.

We loaded her in the van and headed back out to the trail head. You have to hand it to these guys and gals who have hiked this far when 3/4 of the hikers have dropped out. Cricket is a cute little girl, she is hiking solo. Amazing, the youth today.

This is 'Cricket' suited up and headed out into the wilderness. We wished her luck, she thanked us for the ride and we headed back into Monson. It makes you feel good to help these kids accomplish their dream.

I wanted to stop at a road side veggie standwe saw earlier. So we did. It happened to be beside the house I wanted to photograph. I always wonder about abandoned houses. Why? Who? etc. This was at one time a proud farm home I am sure. We only bought squash and a Cucumber.

Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
War does not Determine who is right, war determines who is Left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The advantage of exercising every dayis so when you die, they'll say,

'Well, he looks good doesn't he.'

Traveling the GPS is handy. However you cannot trust them completely. On the way up here 'She' tried to get me to turn the motor home onto this road. It is for Off road vehicles only, and about 7 feet wide. The road is called 'Happy Corners Road'. I wouldn't have been so happy if I had turned!

BUT this morning we stopped at the 'Abbot village Bakery', all the good baked right here. We had a deli sandwich and an apple tart to go, on the way to the trail. While we waited..

we met this Bull moose fellow in the dining room! I had a letter to mail so we headed to the post office. I missed the road and turned around in a drive with this pink/purple barn at the end of the drive. Neat, huh?

Going back to the Postoffice i turned by this old hotel, IT IS down town Abbot, nothing else but an antique store, church and barber shop.

We traveled thru Moscow, Maine. to Carratunk, Me. to starty our days hike. IT is on he Kennebec River. This is the only river on the entire 2000+ miles they strongly suggest you not ford, because it can change depths by 2-4 feet in a matter of minutes. The AT provides this Canoe and a volunteer operator to transport ALL hikers across the river. They have certain hours of opertation, we were between time so we did not get to talk to the operator.

Sherry down looking at the Kennebec river.

Today's hike started along the Kennebec. It flows very fast and is about 8-10 feet down from this trail.

Of course we got a kick out of this blaze. some one had put a little face in it. I am sure it causes a smile on every hiker's face. Looks sorta like Casper the Friendly ghost.

Our first Thru hiker of the day Parastas, he started from Gerogia March 15th. Hopes to finish in a week.

Our last hiker of the day was 'Tahoe', from Orland Florida, 30 miles from where we winter over. He started from Georgia April 2nd this year. He will finish in about a week. These guys are excited because the next long shot is tomorrow, or the day after they start the 100 mile wilderness.

The vistas today were fantastic.

This lake had a great expanse and was beautiful. We sat here for awhile.

We attracted a gaggle of ducks. This is two of them, they ate most of Sherrys trail mix.

Back by our down town Hotel, with beautiful hanging baskets, it is partly a furniture show room. i cannot figure where the customers are.

We are about to wind up our hiking adventure for the year and head toward Bangor. We have about three days left here. Tomorrow we visit the beginning of the 100 mile wilderness. It is above Monson, Maine.

Thanks for coming along with out day trip. tonight it is chicken sandwiches.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Sherry said that every time she heard that dirty word 'exercise',She just washed my mouth out with chocolate.

Sunday:Monson, Abbot & Dover-Foxcroft

The entrance toour new home, I like the big farm in the background.

Little town called Guiford has this white building that crosses the river. Hope to get a better picture later.

We were sitting outside the Monsoon Community church trying to decide whether to go in or not,when these hikers walked by the car, "Heading for the AT trail head?" Is our standard question. They were. So we loaded them in and set them on the AT. They are from Tennessee.

I fell for this old log house. I wonder the stoies it could tell. It is now so grown up, I could barely see it. But I love it.

Something there as about a car! to paraphrase the Poet Robert Frost. This is a 1939 Buick in Dover-foxcroft, Maine. (We stopped because 1939 is the year me and this buick were born).

Don't you just love covered bridges. It was years before I realized there was a reason for a covered bridge, Up here the snow and ice would have made crossing a bridge impossible in the winter.

Naturally we had to drive thru it. paved on one end and gravel on the other, for us tourists.

Back home after church in Dover Foxcroft. We stopped by and picked up FOUR lobsta rolls they were good, but not as good as the tomato sandwiches (samiggies) you smart alecks have been telling about.

Well we may hike some tomorrow. Sherry is saying her feet are doing good. I have been massaging her feet and .... feet every night. Of course as a Doctor, my instructions are to step into the other room and remove all your clothes!!!! One day it will work, I a pretty determined guy. Doctors don't come cheap you know, we expect some renumeration, and i am into bartering.

Enough. Glad you came by.

Nite Shipslog

PS:
Even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

And then some never suffer alone, we inflict pain to have company!!

Pictures of the Old Swimmin HOLE down town Kindsfield, Maine.

This is our home for tonight... At Deer Farm Camp Ground. We had a fire outside with cake and ice cream with good coffee.

I did not put pictures on this morning. On the way to get the car fixed we stopped by the dam

Three boys were playing below the dam.

Isn't that dam-fall beautiful. Notice the tree I mentioned that allows them to climb back to the top of the dam.

While I walked back up to get a pic. of the bridge they dive off, Sherry said one dived off the Dam, I missed it.

This is the Dam pond, YOU can see the stump of the tree I was talking about them climbing up, hung on the dam itself..

This is the restaurant where we ate yesterday. We were seeated at the window to the right. I didn't realize they had a patio on the roof.

This is a beautiful home across the river.

The boys having a ball swimming in the river.

Time to get to Poulans Garage. This is the waiting area, Sherry reading. I love this atmosphere, I honestly to.

The van is on the hoist inside, we are set for an after noon of it.

I was drawn to this military snow blower. I don't think I need this.

In a few minutes the care is backed out of the garage. Finished said the young greasy Mr. Poulan. NOW THE BILL! They replaced both rotors and pads on the front. Rear was OK. Hold on to your hat. The labor for three men thirty minutes, get this...... $24.00. I haven't seen prices like than since the fifties. The parts were sold to us at COST! Any garage I know adds at least adds 20-50% parts cost.

We drove down the road, to see where our detour would lead us tomorrow. Ran across a computer reapirman dropped the second computer off that was riding in the car.

Going back by the Garage on the way home. We stopped by the garage. I put $30 in an autographed copy of Rags. and walked in. I know the mechanic thought I was returning to complain, why else would I be back? They were a happy crew, and we are a happy couple. To be in a remote area, with Florida tags on a car for emergency repairs and Get a great deal.

Looking at this picture of a beautiful old church, WE are blessed more than anyone I know.

Thank the Lord.

The hotel down town Kingsfield.

The front of the Longfellow Restaurant.

I just wanted to share these pictures and some more wonderful folks we have met!

Jack & Sherry of the Shipslog.