“See you later Dude”
These were my words as I left the Speck Pond shelter at 6am. My inner left thigh gave me zero trouble this morning where as last night it was stiff.
For breakfast I drank a hiker mocha. Now this is not your normal mocha, a hiker mocha consists of two Instant coffee sashes, a packet of breakfast essentials and for added calories two packets of oatmeal (the oatmeal is optional).
I climbed Old Speck mountain to start the day. Every now and then I turned to look at the view. One time I turned to see The Dude, a tiny speck upon engulfed by the mountainous landscape.
At the top I sat and took advantage of having cell service. I uploaded yesterday’s activity to Strava. Just to make it clear sun not running, I’m hiking with a pack on my back completely self sufficient.
The view consisted of what looked like islands surrounded by the ocean which in fact was a clouds with mountain tops poking up through them.
Finally The Dude caught me up and also took advantage of cell service. I contacted on telling Dude I’d see him down the trail.
I listened to another podcast from Bike Tour Adventures, a French man and Vietnamese woman cycled from France to Vietnam. They shared their stories, which I found captivating.
I then came to an irresistible sight, a waterfall dumping its water into a small swimming hole. Within three minutes I was naked and sitting underneath the falling water. I used my biodegradable soap to wast my four essential areas.
Dressed and clean I bounced down the trail. Ahead was a road crossing ME Route 26 at Grafton Notch. I had a strong feeling there would be trail magic. I could taste the ice cold fizzy Coca Cola, I imagined eating two hot dogs and helping myself to homemade cakes.
Once at the Grafton Notch my trail magic fantasy bubble burst. It hurt and so became desperate to eat really food. I decided to hitch a ride into a small town down the road called Bethal. But after 10 minutes only three cars had passed and none had picked me up.
Disappointed I crossed the road and joined the trail. I dug into my pack and pulled out bar after bar eating them until I had clocked up about 800 calories.
The next mountain Baldpeak West peak was ahead. The climb was really difficult for me. Physically I was fine just tired. But mentally I struggled. I used the time to go into my minds memories and replayed some key moments with my my friends. I ended up feeling privileged instead of sorry for myself. I did it, I made it through a really tuff time for me.
At the top so sat and ate a tuna and bean tortilla, drank an instant coffee and continued my journey North. I have run out of the coffee Exhale gave me so it’s caffeine thru hiker style from now on, cheap and instant.
The next 3 hours were mostly downhill and the trail became somewhat easier. Until now the trail has been a mix of rocks all sizes and shapes. I told The Dude this Morning that I have so much respect what him and the other thru hikers have achieved so far, five months of hiking 10 hours every day up and down mountains with heavy packs through all weather is awe inspiring.
I’ve been either sleeping in shelters or my tent with other people around but tonight I’m alone in the woods with my tent set up next to a flowing river. I set my camp up about two hour ago and have been eating and relaxing.
I washed for the second time today in the river. I feel tired and ready to sleep. But I have the task of hanging my food in a bear bag. I don’t think I would sleep if I kept it in my tent. I asked The Dude this morning if he hangs his food on a bear bag. Dude told me he saw what looked like a five hundred pounds bear walk straight through young sapping trees snapping them as it moved forward like a black furry tank. So Dude told me he always hangs his food.
Time to hang my food and sleep.
