Today is a day we’ve been waiting for. Today we cross the Kennebec River. I remember talking to PC back in Pearisburg, VA about him crossing it last year. It was after the ATC Ferry had stopped for the season and he considered inflating his sleeping pad, putting his gear on it, and swimming across. It would have been quite chilly since it was October in Maine. Plus, not very smart since there isn’t a published schedule of water releases from the hydroelectric dam upriver. There’s already been one death here this year when a young kid wouldn’t wait until morning to cross.
As usual, Chip was first out of camp. Bunny and I were going to pull up the rear today since we were camped far enough away from everyone that we didn’t hear them stirring. We still had privy visits on the schedule as Bear and Sassy were about to head out. We were all talking with a older couple who were finishing up their AT section hike today. Their ending point is when they step out of the canoe on the other side of the river.
I was the last to access the privy. While I was in there trying to get my work done so I could fill out the required paperwork, everyone else was standing about 10 feet away from my worksite. I’ve always had issues with working under observation and nothing has changed even after hiking over 2000 miles on the AT. I wanted to yell “step away” so I could get on with the heavy lifting without fear of innocent bystanders getting hurt. I had two choices: 1) either try to be as stealthy as possible, or 2) let her rip and don’t worry about survivors. I chose option 2. When I stepped out, everyone was gone.
Bear and Sassy were waiting for us on the edge of the pond. The trail actually is built out into the pond in front of the spillway. Following the trail around the spillway leads to a road/side trail heading to the fish camp where we could have eaten breakfast. Instead, we followed the trail to a falls which is fed from Pierce Pond. This stream runs all the way to the Kennebec.
This was one of the most pleasant walks we have had the entire trail. It was four easy miles with a slight downhill grade all the way to the Kennebec. In all, we dropped 1000’ in a little over 4 miles and had, at most, maybe 30’ of total climb along the way. When we arrived at the river, there was already a crowd forming to cross. To save time, the “courier/transporter/guy that paddles the canoe” gave us the schpiel as a group and gave us the releases to sign before we could get in the canoe. Chip went first, followed by the couple finishing up today, then Bear and Sassy, followed by 2 other guys we didn’t know, with Bunny and me last.
Chip stood on the opposite shore watching everyone else cross. When the couple finishing up today stepped out of the canoe, I was convinced GCN had finally last it. He began to convulse in a tight circle. It most resembled a cat having fallen in a deep, narrow well that kept running to opposite sides of the well and trying to climb the wall of the well but falling back to the bottom before turning around and trying to climb up the opposite side of the well. When Bunny and I finally got across, we quietly asked Bear if Chip was mentally stable. He assured us that GCN was merely doing a “mummers dance” like drunken Irishmen do in the New Year’s parade in Philly. In all fairness, we’ve been all over Europe and North America. This dance is not a maneuver isolated to the Irish drinking community, but I wasn’t aware GCN was carrying alcohol.
We still didn’t know where we were going to stay tonight. We just walked on to the Caratunk House Hiker Hostel. It was just about 1/4 mile off of the trail. When we got there, the owner told us he was closing for the season and not taking in any more hikers for the night. We were welcome to eat and do a little shopping in his store, but staying was not an option. The specialty of the house is pulled pork sandwiches and milkshakes. I placed my order, heard a familiar voice behind me, and turned around to a familiar face. Behind me was Handy who was working at Angel’s Rest Hostel in Pearisburg. He told me he had left not too long after we had stayed there and has been up here most of the summer. He was the cook at the Northern Outdoor Center down the road and we should stay there.
We called the shuttle to pick us up after we got done eating. A milkshake is always worth the delay. When we got to the Center, they fixed us up with a huge room to ourselves. There’s a microbrewery on site as well as a full service restaurant, hot tub, and laundry. We took turns getting in the showers. I was the only one that opted for a spell in the hot tub with a couple of beers while the laundry was in cycle. We had supper in the restaurant in which Handy took very good care of us with extra large portions. Rain is predicted for tomorrow around noon, so we went to bed early in the hope of getting out ahead of the weather.
EFG