Coasting

Yes, I was. Took 3 days off out of Rangeley Maine and went to the coast for some R&R with a girl I'd met hiking in the Smokies, hung out with in HotSprings, that had put out the invite to me. Chilled on Monhegan Island all day, cooked and baked all sorts of amazingness in a real kitchen, had lobster for the first time (which is like a variation on picking bluecrabs).

See none of the trail rumors are true. The Whites didn't kill us. Pennsylvania isn't rocky. And Virginia sure isn't flat. But there is one trail rumor that is more than true. Southern Maine is worse than the Whites. Southern Maine is the worst part of the trail. It takes forever. Mahoosuc Notch and Mahoosuc Arm. Toughest 10 miles of my life. Took me 12 hours. If I were a fraction of an inch shorter I dont know how I would've made it. Stretched me to the Max. And all in the rain or just after rain besides. I had a few brief shafts of light before Andover, like sundown just before Speck Pond, probably the most epic scene of all my life as a hiker.

Things got a little better from Andover. I found someone to hike with for 3 days, which is a rarity. Rarity in that it has never happened for me and another thru-hiker. I liked it cause it was mutually beneficial, I wasn't getting creeped on, and each of us hiking our own hike was most important to both of us. Then I went on vacation.

I meant to update this from there but I fell asleep instead. The change (or lack) of pace and some seawater did me wonders. And my legs, in revolt and mutiny after 1850 miles of what I'd put them through, were back in the game and up for hiking again.