This morning I decided to tackle a short section that required me to time the availability the Kennebec River AT Ferry (it’s only open two hours a day for most of the Spring and Fall but extends the schedule to five hours in July and August). I was up early at my hotel in Farmington because of loud neighbors, got ready and packed my car. While waiting for the lobby to open, I drove on US-2 near the hotel, checking prices at gas stations nearby - they were all much higher that I wanted to pay. Came back to hotel and ate breakfast there (0800). I was on the road about 15 minutes later and headed north (used US-2, ME-27, ME-234, ME-16, US-201A, US-201). I filled up my gas tank at Sunoco in Bingham (0915). I met a Navy Retiree and had a good time talking to him. Back on the road, I encountered a lot of construction and slow traffic. However, I made it to US-201 AT Trailhead parking in Caratunk, got all my hiking stuff and walked just under half a mile to the ferry landing (arrived at 1000). The ferryman remembered me from last September (I'd visited to check out the operation) and quickly paddled me across the River. From there, I walked (SOBO) a little over two miles to fill in a gap I had on my AT tracker. The trail was rocky, rooty, muddy and hilly but was easier than I’d seen over the last few months. There was a nice breeze coming off Otter Pond Stream (below the level of the trail) and this offset the increasing temperatures (70s-80s). I passed two solo Thru hikers early on and, just as I was nearing my turnaround point, encountered a family of seven who were also Thru hiking. I talked to them briefly but they were in a hurry. When I resumed my outbound leg, I had trouble finishing the turnaround reference, a log across a small creek. Fortunately, I had a photograph from my last visit and, after looking at a location from several angles, determined that the “bridge” had actually been washed away over the Winter. Certain that I’d “closed the loop”, I hiked back to the ferry landing. Despite their lead on me, the family of Thru hikers had just started their crossings. No matter - I sat in the shade and enjoyed an even nicer breeze that was blowing down the Kennebec. Finished my hike at around 1300 after around 5.5 miles - a nice morning in Maine! Even thought it was early, I was ready to call it a day. So I retraced my steps to Bingham and checked into the Bingham Motor Lodge (1335). I rested and read in my room (and even did some telework). I ate dinner (snacks) and talked to Mollie. Before going to bed, I did some more reading and planning for the next day - asleep by about 2200. AT Today = 2.0 miles / G.T. AT = 1831.8 miles / AT Left = 353.5 miles
