Forty-fifth day R 8/20/20

START:    Hogan Road       3 amFINISH:  Grafton Notch  ME26     6:30pm30.3 miles       15:30    2.0 mph1,936.4  total miles      43  mpdExcellent weatherMercury got an early start and strode off into the rugged Mahoosucs,  which are probably the roughest trail section (over 30 miles) on the entire AT. She did quite well on the rock faces/ledges and negotiating the caves, crevasses, long wooden ladders, and large boulders in the 'slowest mile of the trail', Mahoosuc Notch. Her arduous day was rewarded by two homemade apple pies courtesy of Slider and Landslide beneath the looming cliff faces of Grafton Notch.Pegasus tested his/her hoofs on a 25-30 mile dirt logging road keeping a wary eye out for moose darting out from the undergrowth.Besides seeing Mercury right before she entered Mahoosuc Notch and when she ended her day safe in Grafton Notch, the highlight for Jupiter was being given for four free face masks by the greeter at WalMart (Gorham, NH). Perhaps, his spaghetti sauce stained 'old' face mask that he was wearing precipitated this act of generosity?The mountains/lakes of western Maine are very beautiful this time of year.Onward!