Miles Hiked: 10.3
Total Miles: 116.3
Finally made it out of the 100 mile wilderness. It felt good seeing a road and traffic. Called up Lakehouse Lodge for a shuttle and in 20 minutes someone picked up Pilot and I. I’m staying here at the Lakehouse tonight and possible taking a day off tomorrow and staying here again. Was able to take a shower and do laundry, buy food for the next leg, and watch a movie with all the other hikers here. Eating a good hot meal was also great. Monson is a great little town. The people are super friendly. Pilot and I had ice cream at the General Store and met the owner, Tim. We talked to him about the trail and all the hikers that come in and out. He was a super guy to talk to, and the ice cream was good too. Sleeping in a bed tonight is going to be great and am looking forward to it.
Also met 4 other SOBO hikers: Sponge and Splake, who are both my age, Spill Queen and Fallen Branch. Sponge and Splake left this afternoon and hopefully I can catch up with them and hang out with them a bit more, they seemed like great people. So far the trail has been a great journey and I look forward to the next stage and getting into the swing of things. Feels nice to be outside in the nice weather while hiking even though the terrain at times is challenging. I’m finding that the downhills are most difficult, whereas the uphills are usually not much trouble for me. The next section of trail is relatively flat with some small mountains. The trail will start getting insanely hard in southern Maine and also through the Whites. I look forward to the challenge and all the unique experiences around the next corner. But for now I’m just relaxing in some flip flops by the lake and enjoying carbonated soft drinks and beer, while wearing a set of loaner hiker swim trunks and a shirt that reads: “you rock, you rule”, and watching the owner of the hostel’s kids jump on the water trampoline and do belly flops on something called the “splash log”. Maine really is “the way life should be”.
