Well the weather guessers were somewhat right. It rained all night long, and off and on today. No torrential downpour but just enough to make everything wet including my shoes, socks, gaiters, and rain jacket. so pretty much everything. I am really thinking, I am a California Girl because at this point, all I can think about is glorious sunshine and butterflies. None of that happening here.

I smashed my wet tent into its stuff sack and headed out. Blue was right behind me. And I mean right behind me. If I stop, she runs into me! With her umbrella up, it’s hard to see what’s happening up ahead, especially when all you look at is where are you putting your next foot. In a mud hole, in a bog, on a slippery rock or root? It’s nothing but pure joy out here. I think I’m starting to get a bit tired of this trail. It’s been really hard and even with the lack of elevation, it’s constantly making me feel like I am going to slip and fall at any moment. I did twice today. Nothing major, just my typical foot in mud and can’t move forward. This muck holds you in place like cement! It’s a real momentum stopper.

My other big issue is, I’m dealing with a sore left calf muscle, and it’s not happy. I’m good when I stop or sit or lay down, which doesn’t happen a lot. But when I’m moving and trying to make miles, it pulls or strains or who knows what? It’s just not wanting to deliver the miles I need right now. I’ve tried rolling it out, using Icy-Hot, taping it with KT Tape, Vitamin-I, aka Ibuprofen, but nothing seems to work. Well, stopping works, but that ain’t happening. So I plod along and do what I can do.

Poor Blue is pulling her hair out because she’s ready to be on top of that mountain. I think she’s at the end of her rope. The weather has been a huge determinant to fun. It’s somewhat depressing and wears you down. I totally agree with her. Sorry this isn’t the uplifting rainbows and unicorns kind of blog today. It’s just been a bit tough out here. Even Whistles was getting depressed today.

We all met up at Harrison’s Pierce Pond Camp. Tim, the owner, has been there for 38 years helping hikers and anglers. He has a cabin that everyone is welcome to. And the best part is he provides a breakfast of Pancakes with Berries, Sausage and Eggs, Coffee & Tea, and Juice. All you need to do is walk the extra bonus .3 miles there and back to make your reservations. Blue, Whistles and I all headed over and placed our orders for the following morning. Tim offered us Lemonade and a place to sit out of the weather.

Whistles is also a flip-flopper like me. He started at Harpers Ferry around the same time I did and here we are, 160 miles away from Katahdin, which for most hikers, is the end. He keeps hearing all the excitement in most the hikers, anticipation of the end, when he still has another 1,000 miles to go. Me, on the other hand has only 300 miles to go, and connect the dots in completing my hike. Well not completely accurate because I still need to come back and finish the mountains between Rangeley and Long Falls Dam Road. Whistles’ Dad is meeting him at Abol Bridge and plans to hike Mt. Katadrin with him. That’s a big boost for his morale. When I was hiking with Couch and Braveheart, we spent many days hiking with Whistles. He’s a young kid and very intellectual. I always enjoy talking with him.

Our hike today was fine with little elevation, lots of trees and many Ponds, which I call Lakes due to their size. There were some beautiful sandy beaches, which on a sunny day would be great for swimming. The Ponds have rocky bottoms with gravel-like areas that would make an excellent choice to sit. There was much plank walking today over bogs and near the shorelines of the ponds. Maine is extremely rugged and remote, and has a different type of beauty than any other of the states I passed through. Most hikers love this state. It truly is out of the normal for it to rain like this, especially day after day after day.

I remember talking with The Ravens who I met on the PCT. They have hiked all three long distant hikes, making them Triple-Crowners, and shared their spreadsheet with me. Everyday that it rained, and they said only if it rained most of the day, they placed an R next to that date. During their time on the AT, it rained something like 44%. I thought that was unheard of, but I betcha I am right up there with rain days, if not more. But there is a reason why everyone comments on the pictures that I post. They always remark about how green it is. I rarely enhance my photos and what you see is what it is out here. It’s as close to a rainforest as the Olympia National Park. Well maybe not that rainy, but darn close!

So here I am laying in my tent thinking about the next couple of weeks. Blue and I are planning our strategy on what is the best way to finish this trail on a positive note. Honestly, when we get to Abol Bridge and we look at that mountain, I’m sure that there will be tears of joy and tears of sadness. So for now, we are just going to have the best time together and pray for good health, healing of my calf and a bit of California sunshine. That’s all things that my Lord can do. And I have absolute faith that He is moving mountains right now! Thank you sweet Jesus.