Maine
Baldpate - Mile 1925 - Aug 14th, 2015
Maine
Day 137
Mile 1925
Finally taking a moment to write. I am sitting atop a Maine mountain soaking in some morning sun. My parents and Jumbie have come and gone. My short hiatus complete. Shortly after writing my last post, I began a 32 mile walk in 30 hours, that started with a bear sighting. A baby black bear ran right in front of me as I crossed the Androscoggin River. I didn't get a great picture, but it provided pure excitement for the first few hours of hiking. Then came the difficult stretch. Some of the climbs in Southern Maine are just as difficult as the White Mountains. Very steep. At times wet, boggy, slippery, and muddy. The Mahoosuc Notch was a blast. Some consider it the hardest part of the trail. I found it to be the most exciting. It's a relatively flat, one mile section in a deep ravine. The ravine is filled with giant boulders the size of cars and trucks. The swifter and lighter packed hikers can jump from rock to rock and and slide through gaps and crevices. It was the best mile on the whole trail. It was like American Gladiators or American Ninja Warrior. I loved every minute of it. Almost immediately after the notch was a one mile, 1500ft climb. I ran to the top, even passing fellow thru hikers. I had beer, food, and 3 days off at the end of my day. I was motivated.
Anyways, I arrived 13 minutes late of our prearranged meet time. I strolled into a parking lot to find my parents giving some other hikers cold beer, sodas and snacks.
They were already paying it forward with trail magic. It brought a big smile to my face.
So after some hugs and conversations, we decided to go to dinner. As we started to pull out of the parking lot, we saw two hikers hitching rides in the same direction we were going. "Jump on in," we said.
We eventually took them 40 miles all the way to Gorham, NH. A pretty epic hitch for those guys. A free 40 mile ride, with beer.
We ate dinner in Gorham, then headed back to Waterford, Maine, where we had a nice quiet cabin rented for three nights. Two T.V. channels, no internet. Exactly what I wanted. Each morning, my dad and I would take the canoe or row boat out and try for some fish while drinking our morning Bloody Mary. We celebrated my dads 61st birthday with a local Apple-raspberry pie and got a fire one night for S'mores.
The last day, my pops caught the biggest Large mouth bass of his life. A 5 pound monster that dragged the canoe around the lake. It fought like a champion before finally allowing us to retrieve the hook and gently put him back in the water. It was great to watch him swim off and to be there to confirm the moment. We didn't have our cameras on us, but I'd say it was 21 inches, 5 plus lbs. Caught on a rubber worm with a split-shot weight. What a beauty.
So after two full zeros, eating, drinking and sleeping to my hearts content, it was time to pack it all up and get back to the trail. My mom bought me some new socks and shorts and we got some beer, sodas and ice for a little more trail magic.
They hung out for a couple hours before deciding to get back on the road. They were going to stop by Mt. Washington on the way back. Good luck! It can get nasty up there!
They left me with a bunch of food that I gave to a pack of section hikers. I drank a bunch of beers and hiked 4 miles to the top of this mountain. I watched the sun set and a meteor shower throughout the night. I saw more stars last night than any other time on trail. It was a great way to end my resting phase.
Today, I return to the woods with a bag full of food, fresh socks and the best parents in world. For raising me a parrothead and inspiring my every step, Thank You! For always being there and always believing in me, Thank You!
You have the one thing I have yet to find. A loving partner and beautiful family to share this wonderful life with.
I look forward to finding it.
Happy 39th Anniversary!
With love,
Michelangelo
A very Happy Anniversary to my brother and Julie as well! 5 years already? Living the dream!
Internet will be quite sporadic going forward.
I'll do what I can.
Jason
Baldpate - Mile 1925 - Aug 14th, 2015