Date: 2006-09-19
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: overcast clouds

0919Rainbow Stream Lean-to to Abol Bridge15 MilesIt didn¢t rain last night so the trail stayed fairly dry. I got out early and didn¢t wait for Berk to join. When I got to the blue blaze that goes to the dam where Moe and Ponch were I stopped briefly for a drink of water, but decided to keep on truckin¢. I was anxious to see K¢ache. I made really good time to Rainbow ledges where I agreed to wait for Berkinstock. There were supposed to be views of Katahdin but I didn¢t see any, despite the clouds clearing. I waited for a few and then moved on. Berkinstock caught up with me at Hurd Brook Lean-to. As expected somebody had already replaced the ¢H¢ in Hurd, with a ¢T¢ in the register. This would be the last shelter register on the AT. We hung out for awhile eating the last of our food. With less than 4 miles left of the Hundred Mile wWlderness left to go, I had made it through without starving to death. I kept trying to think of something clever or inspiring to write but nothing came to mind. How do you sum up 2,100 miles of walking in just a few words? ¢Guess I¢ll go first¢, I said, as I picked up the register. It felt like paying my last respects or something. I had made some business cards before we left home with our picture and address info for folks we met on the trail and had one left, so I said goodbye to everyone behind me and taped the card in the register. I spent the last hour or so walking alone. It would be the last time with just me and the trail. Or at least that feeling of solitude. I found myself crying alot remembering brief moments of the past 6 months. The good times; the not-so-good times, and all the wonderful friends I have made. How many of them will remember me after we all go home? I think I am afraid I might forget something.As I left the woods and came to the road, Berkinstock was waiting for me. ¢Hey Pi¢, he said pointing at the ground beneath a double white blaze that marked the trail leading south into the woods. ¢Looks like somebody left you a note.¢ There in the sand was a message made of sticks that simply read ¢HI PI¢ minutes later I crossed Abol Bridge and she was in my arms once again-my K¢ache. The afternoon/evening was spent with Berk, Moe, Ponch, and Cosmic Punchline, drinking much and eating surprisingly little. It started to rain so we finished the last of our beers in the rental car Kathy used to drive up and meet us in.Sept 19th. K'ache's. I spent the day around the campground and bridge looking for my Pi. Hikers didn¢t start emerging until the afternoon. Finally I saw a figure on the bridge that even though from afar he looked a lot like other male hikers (i.e. scraggly hair, scruffy beard, pack and kilt). I could tell by the walk it was my Pi. I quickly put on the shirt ¢Got Pi¢ that my friend Laurie (trail angle) made for me when I got off the trail. I ran to meet him on the other side of the bridge. We had both crossed over¢¦it was almost like a new journey beginning. Also with him was Berkenstock, and Ponch and Mo were close behind. We all decided to camp together. After picking through the tiny store for dinner items and beer, we made camp with a view of Katahdin. It began to rain and we continued our soir©e in the rental. It continued to rain all night. Poor Mo was getting so wet in their ground cloth/fly that she ended up sleeping in the car.