Day 95: Piazza Rock Lean-To

Start: ME RT 17 (AT mi 1959.6). Stop: Piazza Rock Lean-To (AT mi 1974.5) Today’s miles: 14.9 miles. Total AT mileage: 949.8 miles

I set my watch alarm for 6:30, then turned it off when I felt it’s vibrations. I knew I needed to get up, pack, get ready for the day.. but I just wasn’t ready. I didn’t let myself go all the way back to sleep, since my watch doesn’t have snooze as an option.. I finally rolled out of bed at 6:43. Man these early mornings may be something I never really get used to. Although, my mom and Lauren would be happy to know that I’m not nearly as bratty when I wake up these days.. lol

I stripped my bed and grabbed my hiking clothes.. and then stood outside the bathroom waiting my turn. After peeing in the woods the second you know you have to pee, waiting in a line feels like a lifetime of bladder control. The dude in there must have been pooping because he was sure taking forever.. I considered just going out to the front yard for a second-but I decided I’d be more civilized since there were people around.
I finally got in and got to handle my business. Drop my bed sheets in the hamper, change my clothes, pee.. and then head upstairs for breakfast. It was the same breakfast as the previous few days (so I assume I missed nothing “special” yesterday during my sleep-in), and ya know what? It was just as good as it was the other days I ate it. I’d eat it again tomorrow, too, if that were an option.

After I ate my fill, I went over to Mrs. Honey to pay her my tab I’d been racking up the last 4 days. For 4 nights of sleeping, 4 dinners, 3 breakfasts, 2 days of shuttles for slack packing (including the additional mileage to get to Rangeley to pick up David’s tent), AND for the shuttle out this morning to start hiking northbound again, my total was $189. Some might think that’s a lot.. but I’ve literally stayed in hotels more expensive than that for one night.. I felt this price was more than fair, especially for the kindness of Honey, her son, Don, and then Hopper and Jo-jo, plus her husband Frank. I quite literally adore them all, and their doggies, too. I gave Mrs. Honey $200 and then refused to let her get out of her recliner to get me change.

She’s 89 years old and still as sharp as a tack, still drives shuttles and cooks meals, serves her hikers and is in constant great spirits with lovely stories of her adventures on the AT and other hiking trails. I can only hope I’m as physically and mentally healthy at that age as she is. She’s a true inspiration.. and I feel like when you have a heart like hers, you attract like minded people. Jo-Jo and Frank only came to visit her and ended up staying close to 2 weeks to let some other hostel workers have time to go hike themselves.. and Hopper. Hopper is a hell of a woman that I just admire completely. Her stories aren’t mine to tell, but I’m grateful for the time in the shuttle with her and to have learned so much from and about her.

Anyway. After settling up, I quickly got to packing my stuff. I have to figure out the best way to pack David’s tent, because while it’s lighter than mine, it’s bulkier because of the fabric. I think I just need a few days with it find out how it totes best. Today, it’s awkwardly strapped on top like my 4 pounder used to be, but it’s way smaller than that bulky thing, so it just barely pokes out the sides under the brain of my pack.

Once packed and ready, Mrs. Honey herself drove me, Flash, and Runway to “Height of the Land” which is what they call Route 17. This is my 3rd time at this road crossing and the views still aren’t old. It’s absolutely stunning! There’s a lake down in the valley that we see from up on the hilltop covered in wildflowers. It mesmerizes me every time I see it. Once we got there, Flash headed south to slackpack the section I slacked my first day with them, I headed north into the unknown, and Runway and Mrs. Honey drove on to Rangeley. Runway is taking today as her last zero before getting back on trail after her shoulder injury in Mahoosuc Notch. She’s meeting her friends Tinman and Sling in Rangeley and they’ll all hike out together tomorrow.. I hope I run into them again.

So. Today on the trail was GLORIOUS! I started listening to a new audiobook all of 5 minutes into hiking when I realized the trail was what they call “Maine easy.” This just means that it doesn’t require scrambling or climbing.. aka: pristine, good ole walking trail. It went up down and all around, but it was kind and gentle and it didn’t require thinking about each and every step. The new audiobook: The Book of Lost Friends. I’m here to tell you, I recommend 10/10 and I’m not even half way done yet!

I hiked and listened to my book, looked at views, and delighted in the ease of the day. The climbs barely caused my heart rate to raise any. It felt so easy that I caught myself worrying that something ahead was definitely coming to put a halt to my progress. There were lake/pond views. There was a perfectly placed camp area for me to eat my lunch at. Before I knew it I had hiked 9 miles. I hadn’t even noticed that I wasn’t even checking my pace or progress in the app on my phone. I was just walking and taking in the beauty and listening to the story unfolding before me.

Today was also the return of seeing snakes. I’ve seen two today and prior to their sightings-I haven’t seen any since getting to the White Mountains. I think it must have been the rain and the cold. I still screamed like a 4 year old when I saw them both, and was then thankful no one was around to witness my fear. Why are those little boogers so creepy??

I decided that I wouldn’t go into the town when I passed the road that would take me to Rangeley. I had too much food in my pack already, and tomorrow will most definitely not be as easy as today was. Tomorrow has mountains with names involved, so I’ll be huffing and puffing, surely. I did hike on to the next shelter and once there I scouted the area and took my time setting up David’s tent. He sent me poles to make it free standing, but the way I set it up was easy without the hassle of the poles, so I may send those home at the next town, simply so I don’t lose or damage his things.. lol

I filtered my water and ate my dinner. I’m surrounded by other Thru hikers, all NOBOs I don’t know and one Flip Flopper, SillyBands, that I crossed paths with when I slackpacked the other day. There’s a chance of rain tonight, and while I pray it doesn’t come, I guess there’s no other way to test out the waterproofness of my current situation.. at least that way I know I can place the order to have a tent like this of my own.. you know, in like 9-12 weeks.. aka the time it takes for them to send you one. Haha

Also of note, I’ve decided I’m going to just take my time and enjoy my hike until my mom comes, without stressing about actually getting to Katahdin before she arrives. I’ll make my way to Monson, Maine, the town you hit before going into the 100 mile wilderness. I decided the idea of pushing hard to get through the 100 mile wilderness is silly, especially since I’ll still have to miss my flight with my mom to DC in order to summit Katahdin anyway, so why push it and have the potential of being still in the 100 mile wilderness when she comes. That would just make getting out difficult and coming back even more difficult. Monson is easy to get to and from, especially from Bangor, where she’ll be flying into.

I have learned that planning trips while on trail is so stressful to manage. People have to have dates and so much of what we hikers do is up in the air all the time.. the weather, the terrain, the absolutely everything: sore muscles, mental breaks, illness.. everything can literally change in a moment, and trying to plan for and around all of that makes my head hurt. Plus, I hate the idea of “failing” and already I have a sense of failure from Andrea’s trip-I wanted so desperately for her to love the trail as I do, but the weather made sure we were both absolutely miserable when she was hiking with me. And now, with mom, I feel the same way, because I failed to be done when I told her I should be, and now our plan to fly to DC (for her layover and for me to take the train to Harper’s Ferry) together, having that much more time together, is ruined. I really do have a perfectionist’s personality, and while neither Andrea or my mom would consider me a failure (at least I don’t think they would), it bothers the hell out of me regardless.

Anyway. Apparently I have a lot on my mind and a lot to let out on y’all! Sorry about that. When the trail is calm, the thoughts just spew out! Lol With all of that said, I’m waiting until the sun goes down so I can pee nearish my tent site and not have to walk all the way to the privy. I’ve already layered up the hydrocortisone cream on all my rashy spots.. some, mostly on my hips, reopened and got angry towards the end of the day. I think letting them air out tonight will help.. the one day off did do a lot of good, I pray I don’t make it worse by continuing to hike.. but now with deciding to wait for mom in Monson, I can have another zero between now and then 😉 AND when she comes I’ll have the 18-23 off, too! Lol surely I’ll be healed up right by then!

Let’s hope with all these wild thoughts going through my head in loops that I can get some good sleep soon. The tent is definitely comfortable. Goodnight, y’all. Sweet dreams!