Date: 2005-09-25
From: Nahmakanta Stream

To: Rainbow Stream Lean-to
Miles today: 15.7
Weather: scattered clouds

Trail Magic! Trail Magic in the 100-Mile Wilderness and a great one it was. Gypsy and I were up and out by 7:30, not that we needed to be but it was too cold to sit around. I passed her up and was moving along when I saw a sign on a tree. "Hey, you dirty thru-hikers!" Now, we hear the term " dirty thru hiker" a lot. It is a term of affection or distaste, dependng on where it comes from and I didn't expect any "affection" out here, far from any town so I was prepared for the worst. I walked up to the sign and it talked about food, drink, and shelter, ten minutes ahead. A grin crossed my face and off I went! Ten minutes later I walked into a slice of heaven. Java and Jeopardy, thru-hikers from '01 had a campsite decked out for trail magic. First came the cup of coffee, which would have trail magic enough for me! We talked and I told them the rest of the crew would be coming in shortly. Java started getting breakfast preparations going and when the others did show we had eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Nothing better, especially just before you come to the end of the hike! We sat around talking and having fun for about 3 hours. It was half past noon before we felt we had to go. We still had 11 miles to go today. We packed up and off we went. Thanks for everything Java and Jeopardy! I ranged ahead of the rest of the group. I have been doing that for the last couple of days. With the coming of the end of the hike I have been, as Tink puts it, getting into my own head. Nothing major but just thinking about things. Because of this I don't see the crew till lunches or the shelter at night. They love to give me grief over how fast I have been moving so when they asked if I would be running off at 4:00 AM tomorrow I actually said I would be walking with them. Caught them off guard there! On the way to the shelter that day I had another view of Katahdin. This time it was a lot cloudier and the top of the moutain was shrouded in clouds. Reminded me of Mt. Doom from the Lord of the Rings. I also came upon another pond where I was sure there should be a moose. I found a place to sit and I waited there about 15 minutes or so but no moose. I have actually been hiking without my poles in order to eliminate noises in the hopes I wouldn't scare them off. Not many days left to spot one. Tink is feeling the burden because I told her she was in charge of me seeing a moose and it would be her fault if I didn't see one! At the shelter I ran into Africa. He had flip flopped and was heading south to finish the last 150 miles of his hike. It was good to talk with him again. Last time I saw him was shortly out of Hanover. It is wierd, especially now, knowing that you really are seeing some people for the very last time. The rest of the gang rolled in and we settled down, like we have every evening for the last long while. Since the five of us have been hiking we even have our own "spots" in the shelter when we aren't tenting. Nobody says anything. We just throw our thermarests or pads and sleeping bag in our spot. Kinda funny. We really have been between groups for a long time so we are usually the only ones at a shelter area, except for Thrifty, Longhaul, and Hairball, but they always tent. I have been getting lazy and haven't tented as much as I have in the past! 3 more days to go! We did hear a weather forecast at White House Landing and it looks like the 28th could be a good day. Keeping our fingers crossed!