8/11 Big on Miles and Sights

24.6 hiked today, 2018.8 miles N, 155.2 miles left
Pierce Pond Lean-to

Today started very nice. Before I even got out of my sleeping bag I spotted wildlife. I heard a sound just above my head and when I peeked out from under the tarp I could see two White-breasted Nuthatch pecking at the pine tree I had tied off to last night. They were maybe 3 feet away. They didn't notice me at first but about a minute later they saw me and flew off silently.
As I was still in the rough mountains I took it real slow in the morning savoring the views. The first summit, and easy climb, just north of the tentsite was Avery Mt.. The views it gave were awesome with the morning sun casting a warm glow. There I met "Mike on the Hike", a very pleasant British gentleman who I spent a couple hours with. It was great swapping stories of long hikes and talking about our personal philosophies.
We split up when I reached the Old Man's Head Scenic Overlook. There I took a short break to lay out my dew soaked tarp to dry and take in the overlook. Again it was a another awesome view. I simply have run out of words to describe the views around here. I personally prefer them to the Whites, an offence that is punishable by death, but they simply emote me more.
Then I got the joy of descending into the lowlands of ME! It is nice to know that for the next 200 miles almost all my hiking will be with gentle elevations change minus a mountain here or there. At the Little Bigelow Lean-to I took a short lunch break. It has the nick name of the "The Tubs" from the wide pools that form in the stream the runs by it. The water however is too cold for a soak so I just looked at them. There was a few other hikers taking a break too. I had a nice talk with a Swedish family out for a weeks hike.
At this point my hike kicked into high gear. For the first time in a long while I could do long periods of 3 MPH and took full advantage of it and it felt great! From 2:10 PM to 8:10 PM I covered 17 miles. I even saw stuff along the way. First I passed the famous 2000 mile mark, now a couple miles off due to trail construction projects, that is painted in the center of a blacktop road. The tradition is to get a picture of ones self laying on their back next to the mark but since I was alone I did the best I could and got a picture of me crouching by it. Then there was the abundant blueberries that I stopped to pick. It seems like Maine is in prime blue berry season and I am enjoying it thoroughly. I think I must have picked a pint of them. The trail passed through a patch of nice ceders. I am told that farmers used to plant these to provided year round shade for their cows. I wonder if that is the case with the ones I saw. Also, why do they always grow with a bend at the base of their trunks? At West Carry Pond Lean-to I stopped in for a short break and there I meet Troll better know as the founder and owner of Whiteblaze. He is a real awesome guy and I really enjoyed talking with him about new features to come on whiteblaze.net. Also a message, please if you use whiteblaze contribute. From what I hear bandwith costs are a real killer. At Arnold Swamp I did a 50 yard crossing over open water. They had build a long linked floating bog bridge that cross that section perfectly minus a 6 foot submerged section where I had to leap. A tricky thing to when over water! I hate to think what happens to people who slip and fall off the bridge. I could hear, I think, a moose crashing through the brush nearby but I never caught sight of him. East Carry Pond was really cool. First off it is simply beautiful. To add there is a great swimming beach. Then while following the shore on the AT I saw first two White-breasted Nuthatchs and some ducks. I think I got some good pictures of both. I saw the ducks do something neat too. Momma was paddling along with about half a dozen chicks trailing about 2 feet behind. Suddenly for no reason I could figure all the chicks simultaneously started sprinting across the water seemingly racing for the shore and then just as suddenly they stopped about 3 feet short of the shore. Last one across is a rotten duck? I flushed a couple grouse later. These didn't have eggs so they just flew off. Also I spotted a small garter snake slithering away from the trail as I came up on it. As I was hiking very fast towards the end I surprised quite a few chipmunks and toads (thumb nail sized to fist sized) hiking right up to them before they realized. They were running right below my feet this way and that. Finally I heard several loons from nearby lakes.
At last after seeing all that in 6 hours I made it the shelter just after sunset. The sunlight still colored the horizon painting Peirce pond in pretty colors before fading into black. Green Hornet is spending the night here too and it is nice to catch back up with him. I am going to get breakfast at the Harrison camp that is .3 miles away which means I got to eat some cereal at my break at the Carry Pond Shelter. I don't know why but I find myself constantly craving breakfast cereal.
To add to that I find myself taking great joy in having Raman for dinner tonight. I think I have become really sick! My hike will be done soon though when I can learn once more of "real food". :)