Pleasant Pond Mt
Camped at Holly Brook just a few miles up trail from Caratunk. Spent some time reflecting on my conversations, both with Skip and with Dad.
My brother and I have differing opinions on a great number of things. We get on very well, but on some things we are diametrically opposite. One idea is my concept of responsibilities as a crutch, used as an excuse. If people really care about you and not about what they get from their interaction with you, then so many of the 'responsibilities' will take care of themselves. Is that escapism? We disagree. I feel when one fails to pursue what you want to in life, then more harm will result from stifled dreams and bitter unfulfilled hopes. These latent desires will never be forgotten by the subconscious - whatever is? Are we not haunted by things we said, and often just as much by things we wish we had said? An 'I love you' or a 'stuff it, creep' resides way down inside everyone -- but fear of exposing a weakness, a vulnerability, or an anger keeps us socially acceptable. Or is that all bull? Sitting in a tent with a maglite, pondering life ten or 12 or 15 miles a day, have I lost groundings, or found them?
Thinking about Dad, too. The perks of his job are coming to a close. Seven busses remain to be sold, then he's done. A lifetime career counting down in single digits. Wow. All I've ever known of Dad's career is selling the MCIs. His home office next to the den, cluttered with blueprints and paint schemes, filing cabinets of client notes, with mementos of his industry, conventions, and his hobbies stacked about. Need to work on a card for him - sent just to him. Need to do that very soon.
In the dark, I can hear US 201 down in the valley. Came out of Caratunk in the dark - decided not to nighthike more than a few miles. Safety factor for the human nightlife. Hell, there's probably a logging road fifty feet ahead I'll discover in the morning light - isn't that always the case. For all I know, I'm camped atop another pile of moose pellets. Daylight will tell.
This morning, mostly cloudy. That logging road was 1 mile further up. Gorgeous terrain and autumn color.