Day 159 – Zero in Bethel, Maine

“We’re caught in a trap

I can’t walk out

Because I love you too much, baby

Why can’t you see

What you’re doing to me

When you don’t believe a word I say?” – Elvis

I planned this Zero day for quite a while. I need a break after finishing the Whites and starting Maine. I’m beat up physically and mentally. 

And so is my gear:( The knee brace I bought at a Walgreens in Erwin, Tennessee, has given me great service, but I have been keeping it together with duct tape for the past 1500 miles. I definitely got my money’s worth out of it. Sad to see you go, but I had a newer model shipped to the Inn where I am staying.

I got a much-needed haircut just down the street from the Inn this morning. This will take care of me until I get home. My hair had gotten quite long, for me anyway.

I did some resupply shopping at the local market and got a bunch of blogs posted. 

I have 267 miles to go, including the 100-mile wilderness and the summiting of Katahdin. The canoe ferry across the Kennebec River shuts down after September 30. A lot of hostels are closing real soon or have already closed. In addition, I am struggling to stay motivated most mornings. I am really ready to be done and to get home after more than 5 months of hiking. Being solo for the last 1.5 months isn’t helping either.

I spent a LOT of time today doing route planning and made some big decisions. I have hostels and camp sites lined up for the next 70 miles, which takes me just past mile marker 2000. After that, I am skipping ahead 28 miles to guarantee that I get across the Kennebec River before the ferry closes for the season. I will then hike 2 days and cross the Kennebec on either September 29 or 30, weather depending. That then leaves me 2 or 3 days hiking to reach Monson, Maine. Monson is the last civilization before entering the 100-mile wilderness.  I plan to take a day off there before entering the 100 miles.

I have been in contact with some hostels and guides in Monson. I am not sure I am up to doing the entire 100-mile wilderness in one shot. There are 2 or 3 spots that are accessible via gated logging roads, and a few of the hostels will do supply drops to the trail. I may arrange a ride out of and back into the wilderness via one of these. I need to finalize that before I get to Monson. 

I have also started to plan my way home. After finishing Katahdin, I will spend the night in Millinocket, Maine. From there, I need to take a bus or car to Bangor, Maine, about 3 hours. From Bangor, I will take a bus another 3 hours to Portland, Maine, where I can pick up an Amtrak train to Boston. I will switch trains in Boston and take the train to BWI, where Dana will pick me up. The nice thing about the train is that I don’t have to mess around with airport security, which can be a big deal with all my gear. Also, since I won’t know my schedule for certain until just a few days before, I can easily make last-minute train and bus arrangements.