Day: |
102 |
Date: |
Tuesday, 12 August 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
12.9 |
Daily Other Miles |
0.5 |
Total
AT Miles: |
1957.4 |
Total All Miles |
2014.4 |
Weather: |
Sunny, mild, windy. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli. Lunch: Tuna sub,
ice-cream. Dinner: Chicken, salad, ice-cream. |
Aches: |
Bruised thigh and elbow from fall. |
Animals Seen: |
Grouse. |
People Seen: |
5 day hikers, many others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
We got up at 5am in order to reach ME 27
and John’s father by 1pm. We did not have a good night because of
the tossing and turning of the three boys in the shelter which
rocked its flimsy floor. At one point, John said loudly “for crying
out loud!”. I think they got the message. After a hurried
breakfast and packing we left at 6:15am and returned to the new AT
via the very rough side-trail then began our ascent of Spaulding
Mountain. It was a crisp clear morning – a good day for
hiking. Near the summit, we took a short side-trail to the peak and
enjoyed some good views. From there we pressed on north-east past
the side-trail to Sugarloaf Mountain where John was tempted to
detour to capture another 4000’ mountain. We then descended
gradually, then steeply, to the south branch of
the Carrabasset River. On the way down, I slipped twice in quick
succession breaking my watch strap the first time, and suffering
some grazes and a bad thigh bruise the second. More care
required. We had a short break a bit past the river and adjacent
road before making the solid ascent of the twin-peaked Crocker
Mountain. We made good time and got some good views on the way up
and from the north peak where we had our second break. We left
there at 11am, leaving us two hours, for the remaining five
miles. We hoped to arrive exactly on time but, despite reasonable
going, arrived at 1:10pm. We found John’s dad waiting for us as
arranged and they drove me the five miles into Stratton and Widow’s
Walk, an historic bed and breakfast place. We said our goodbyes and
they headed for Boston. No-one was around, but notices invited me
to sign in and select a room, which I did. After a shower, I walked
up the street of the pretty town, put my laundry on and bought a sub
and milkshake for lunch. I sent off a card to Vic, a mutual friend,
as suggested by John, then collected the laundry and did my shopping
before returning to the B&B, registering and writing a letter to
Barb. I went to a nearby pub for dinner, then returned to the B&B,
repacked my food and went down to the lounge for a while. Hosts,
Jerry and Mary, lent me a set of pliers with which I repaired my
watch band. At 9:30pm I returned to my room and listened to the
radio while looking at my maps, planning my final days and writing
up my diary. A call to Marj in Boston to determine if my air-ticket
had arrived was not successful, so I decided to leave ringing Barb
till Monson, by which time I might know for sure. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
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Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
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Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
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Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|