(Daily Mi: 23.0) Today was the longest and by far most challenging day I have hiked on the Trail.

Crusader and I set ourselves up for a long day (23 trail miles + 2 side miles and what proved to be .5 miles of bushwhacking) -- with a hard 5 pm deadline to get to the 'docks' opposite the White House Landing. We just hiked like hell to get it done.

Not a lot of elevation, but some rough, rough trail and a real challenge finding and extracting (non-pond) water -- until near the end. Hiked much of the late afternoon with Chile Pepper.

With time ticking down, we considered stopping a few times -- Chile Pepper actually did when we got to Potaywadjo Spring with about 5 miles and just over an hour to go. Must say that the Potaywadjo Spring itself was just comically active -- huge burbling puddle of clear spring water -- and a tempting spot to stop. And it would have sucked to miss the boat and end up in the middle of nowhere.

But we really flew the last bit -- turned out to be even longer because some disgruntled hikers had ripped down the markings on part of the sidetrail and we had to bushwack along .5 miles of lakefront to find our way to the dock on the AT side of the lake.

The owners leave a gas fog horn for hikers to alert them of their presence. Took about twenty minutes for the boat to show up. The Monkies were onboard when the boat pulled in. They had stopped for lunch and resupply, but were heading on a couple of more miles for the night.

About a five minute ride to the camp on the far shore of Jo Mary lake.

White House Landing is a classic Maine wilderness camp, with a large main cabin built around the turn of the cetury -- now housing a restaurant and small camp store as well as several additional outbuildings, including, a couple of private cabins, a bunkhouse and shower -- all powered by propane and a generator. Owners live on the place with young children through the hiking season.

Tortoise and and her daughter are at the Landing when we arrive and have taken beds in the bunkhouse for the night. They didn't stop in Monson, and it has been making Crusader a little crazy that they have been up on us ever since.

Got there just as the kitchen was closing and ordered 1 lbs. cheeseburgers and an extra-large pizza for dessert.

Hot shower. Soft bunk. Food.