Sitting on the south bank f the Kennebec River at 2:00 pm waiting for the 3:00 ferry. River is unpredictable and dangerous so the the Maine AT Club runs a twice a day ferry during the peak hiking season. Got here around 1:00 after a 7 hour-14 mile walk. Easy, enjoyable walk: good trail, minimal climbs. Something I've not experienced in some time. Forest was pretty: reds and yellows still on the trees suffused with morning light. Red and yellow leaves carpeting the trail. Pierce Pond Shelter was especially pretty. It has a view of the pond and mountains on the opposite shore. Large swaths of the forest there beginning to turn color. Heard loons calling this morning as I walked past East Carry Pond. Heard them last night, too. Walk down from Pierce Pond follows the stream as it drops forcefully over numerous falls. Very nice.
At the river it's sit and wait and chase off the biting flies. The scene is pleasant (except for the flies): silver-blue wahter peacefully flowing past, mostly green trees on the opposite bank interspersed with red, orange, yellow, yellow-green. The far ridge is a mixture of green and less distinct shades of fall color. The sky is blue with high wind blown clouds. A good day to sit and observe.
8:00 PM. Day is done. The ferryman came right on time and we walked into Caratunk by 3:30 and bailed into the Caratunk Hikers' Inn. Were able to resupply for the next two days into Monson, get dinner, shower, and laundry. Even got to sit on the porch and drink beer. The innkeeper also operates the local restaurant, Moose Crossing, which can be reached via footpath from the inn. The restaurant is a trailer conveted to a kitchen with outdoor eating under a tarp. Would fit right in a the Window Rock Swap Meet. So we are all set to raoll out of here tomorrow for the 30 mile walk to Monson. Our remaining AT mileage is rapidly dropping--only 150 miles now Hard to believe after all this time--we left Springer 25 weeks ago today. This hike is almost over. Whatever will I do with myself?
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