Legs and Borders

"The footpath they build had no historical basis. It didn't follow any Indian trails or colonial post roads. It didn't even seek out the best views, highest hills or most notable landmarks. In the end, it went nowhere near Mount Mitchell, though it did take in Mount Washington and then carried on another 350 miles to Mount Katahdin in Maine. (Avery, who had grown up in Maine and done his formative hiking there, was most insistent on this.) Essentially, it went where access could be gained, mostly high up on the hills, over lonely ridges and forgotten hollows that no one had ever used or coveted, or sometimes even named. It fell short of the actual southern end of the Appalachian Mountain chain by 150 miles and of the northern end by nearer 700. The work camps and chalets, the schools and study centres, were never built." Bill Bryson "A Walk in the Woods" Day spent eating, chatting and watching movies, a lot of familiar faces joined in...

Another early start in order to push to the last town stop on the AT - Monson, Maine. My initial plan was to stop before Monson and have a nero day there tomorrow, but a prospect of a shower, comfortable bed and of course town food was too good to pass on, especially as it was the last chance to have it. [Snail and myself with his massive food ressuply for Hundred Mile Wilderness] The theme of the day were river crossings, three to be precise. After climbing over Maxi Bald Mountain with great views of the surrounding area, the flat, muddy trail was going through the Bald Mountain Pond, Bald Mountain Stream and Piscataquis River. Since there was not much rain for the past couple of days all of the crossings were safe with the riverbed clearly visible and water at the knee level with slow to medium current. It still meant that my feet were wet for the entire day but it was a price I was willing to pay for very little elevation gain along the way. ...