Date: 2003-09-07
From: Jo-Mary Road

To: Antlers Campsite
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: overcast clouds

I must admit, today was not the hardest of hiking days. The miles went quickly, and although I didn't feel that I was hiking fast, it only took an hour and a half to get here. I'm sure Hotdog and I could've been to the next shelter, just over 3mi farther north, but there is no need to, so we stayed here. It is beautiful here, with the campsites on Jo-Mary Lake. With the sun setting behind us, the lake in front of us was bright with strong late afternoon sun, and as the sun went farther down, the lake and land across the lake darkened, and the sky changed from orange and blue to pink and purple. It was nice to just sit and watch the colors change. Now, 7:45pm, the moon is up, and is a few days shy of being full. It is very bright, and casts a long, broken reflection on the lake. I don't know which I like better: the colors of the sunset, or the moon and its reflection. Tomorrow morning, the sun should rise from across the lake, so there could be a 3-way tie.After the days off, I now fully realize that the end of this adventure is very near. It is the "next town" that I am looking toward. I think I will enjoy and appreciate these next five days. Hotdog and I are not going to rush through the next 51 miles, taking 5 days to reach the summit of Katahdin. I am sure we could be there on the 11th, or even the 10th if we really pushed, but I don't want to. I want to relax, take it easy, and take my time.It is funny how, just weeks ago, I was anxious for The End to arrive, and now I feel none of that anxiety. I will admit, I am looking forward to resting my aching feet and knees, but I no longer have a desire to push to finish as soon as I can. Five days is soon enough. Perhaps even too soon. But it is time. Time to wrap it up and see what comes next. I don't feel much stress about life after the AT, although, I have much to work out. I am still mulling over ideas for work, and sometimes home, but have come to no conclusions. Before my hike started, I thought I didn't want to go back to SW Fla, but then, after being away for so long, I wanted to go back. I missed my friends and family, a lot. Now, though, I have had another change of heart. While I still miss my friends and family (a lot), I think I need to live somewhere other than Bonita Springs. I think that I will fall right back into some of the same ruts I was in, and it will be harder to break out. Part o! f my reason for hiking the AT was to explore some of the country by myself, without the safety and familiarity of my family and friends. That does not mean I don't love them as much, but I have a desire to continue to look past my comfort zone, even if a little at a time.While these issues are on my mind often during the day, I'm not worrying about them. I'm just trying to clarify my feelings and desires. I like the simplicity that I've found on the trail, and while I know that I can't keep my life quite that simple, I'd like to keep things as simple as I can. I want to carry some of the lessons from the trail home with me, wherever home is. For the next five days, I just want to fully enjoy the AT, my fellow hikers, and Maine. This has been a beautiful, wonderful experience, and I would like to make it even better by making this last lap the best one.