August 28-30. So, so happy to have Danny here. Picked him up from the airport Friday and we made the 2-1/2 hr. drive back to Stratton for the night. We got up early and he drove me 45 mins. to the trailhead and I hiked 16.7 miles in to Pierce Pond. Danny then drove back to Stratton for a shower and breakfast and after checking out of the hotel he drove to Caratunk to the AT trailhead there and hiked 3.7 miles in to Pierce Pond to meet me. He had to take the canoe ferry across the Kennebec River which we both had to do on Sunday. morning. The Kennebec used to be a river that hikers had to ford, but because too many people drowned there, they now have a hired canoe that shuttles hikers across. The canoe runs everyday from 9-11 am and 2-4 pm. Danny caught the 2 pm ferry on Saturday and hiked in southbound and met me at Harrison’s Fish Camp at Pierce Pond. The AT is 0.3 miles down a side trail from Harrison’s. We got a tiny little cabin there. It’s really rustic. There’s no electricity. We used oil lamps for light. In the morning on Sunday, Tim, the owner of Harrison’s, made breakfast. Everyone gets 12 pancakes each plus 3 sausage links and 2 eggs. I ate all but 1/2 of a pancake, 1/2 of my eggs, and Danny ate my sausage. The pancakes were full of raspberries and blueberries and were delicious. The camp’s power in the main lodge was provided by a generator. Tim lives there year round and uses a snowmobile to get around in winter. His camp is 3.7 miles from Caratunk, ME if you hike, but 40 miles by car because you have to go around the river.

Danny fished and was quite successful. This area is a fisherman’s paradise.

Sunday morning after breakfast we hiked north to the Kennebec and was ferried across by David, who Danny has become good friends with. When we got to the road in Caratunk where Danny had left the car, we drove to Moxie Pond Road, a long haul down a one-lane dirt road, where Danny dropped me off to hike southbound back to Caratunk. This was a 15.5 mile day for me and finishes up this area for me.

Danny went back to the ferry again and went back across for more fishing while I hiked. He caught a lot of fish and seemed to have a nice day. He even hiked in about 3/4 of a mile to meet me at the end of the day.

We had planned to go back to Millinocket so I could do the 2 days there I have left, but I’m tired. I’ve hiked everyday for the last 12 days and many days driven an hour or so after hiking. I decided I wanted a day off. So—-the plan is that we’re on our way to Bar Harbour for the night so we can enjoy a down day tomorrow. Then, we plan to climb Katahdin Tuesday. I’ll take Danny back to the airport on Wednesday and then I’ll return to Millinoket and Stratton to hike my last 3 days to finish the trail by the 5th and fly home on the 6th. Whew!! I’m so close. I’m excited to have Danny to summit with me. I’m gonna hate having to hike that 46.1 miles after summiting, but I will get it done. It’s not finished until I’ve walked by every white blaze😅

Shuttle across the Kennebec

Delicious 12 pancake breakfast

The world’s best fisherman

Notice the white blaze in the boat

Lunch spot on Sunday’s hike on top of Pleasant Mountain

Loons. Love their calls.

Since I’m jumping around, I passed my 2000 a while back, but just passed the official 2000 mile mark if hiking nobo in order.

Lunch spot on Saturday’s hike on East Carry Pond.

Danny fishing at Harrison’s Camp.

Harrison’s Fish Camp