Journal 198-ODYSSEY 2021: Bama to Baxter-Hike On!

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Sunday–September 5, 2021
Trail Day–198
Trail Mile–-10.3/2128.1
Remaining Miles–489.3
Location–East B Hill Road, then to The Cabin, East Andover, Margery Honey Towne, Proprietor

My dear longtime hiking friend, Slider, will be with me today, helping me along (once again). He’s here right at six. A fine breakfast (and steaming hot coffee) prepared for us by Hopper and we’re in Slider‘s van on our way to Grafton Notch ME-26. Decision is to hike this section northbound, get the hard climbs out of the way first thing. So, we’ll once again end the day at East B Hill Road. Nomad ’98 is riding along this morning and will be driving Slider‘s van back out and will meet us this evening at East B Hill.

Hiking northbound, getting the difficult climbs behind us early works well; we’re on East Baldpate just after eleven. It’s turned to a cloudy, very cool and blustery day. Rain threatens but holds off.

I manage two hard falls today. The first, just above the wooden ladder. Slider is there and gets me stopped right at the ladder. Second is a header off a set of stone steps as I’m climbing up from Frey Notch Lean-To. Skin up my left arm and bruise my left leg. Nothing broken. I move on and (try to) pay more attention.

Good trail around and down to East B Hill Road, but the 10+ miles today still takes us right at ten hours.

Nomad ’98 is at the road, picks us right up and we’re soon back to The Cabin for the evening. Spaghetti and meatballs for supper–oh yes!

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand.
The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.
(Alexander Graham Bell)