Massive Burgers in the Wild Woods

8-27-09 day 86 start: Cooper Brook Lean-To, ME end: Wadleigh Lean-To, ME daily mileage: 21.5 total mileage: 1127.5 We knew we had a long day ahead of us, and planned for a time consuming lunch detour, so we were sure to be up and out by 7. The trail was flatter than flat and we flew the first 13 miles. We were seriously doing upwards of 3 mph, breakneck speed I know. Our destination was White House Landing, a small inn and restaurant in the middle of the 100 Mile Wilderness. Other than it's location it wouldn't be noteworthy except for the fact that it serves 1 pound hamburgers! To get there we had to exit off the AT and walk just over a mile on a blue blaze trail down to the lake. The building is on the other side of the water so to get over, believe it or not, you blow an air horn on the dock and the guy comes over on a motorboat to ferry you across. It was great! It was me, Disney, and Whisp, and we all got burgers. After 13 miles in the morning those babies when down easy. Huge messy dripping goodness and if not for the 11 dollar price tag I could have definitely done another. We only had 8 easy miles left for the day and close to the shelter we met a freshman orientation group from Unity College camping by the lake. We sat and chatted with them for a while and they gave us some tea they made by boiling this fungus that grows off the birch trees. The mushroom looked like a soaking turd in the pot but it tasted pretty good. They were cool guys but we had to head on down the trail. We got to the shelter early and were pleased when Rabbit, Zoltan, and Monty showed up. They'd pushed some big miles and caught up, but it looks like they'll be right on track with us until K-DAY.