Date: 2004-09-22
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Hurd Brook Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day #192"As I reflect this day's reward,.the good that's come to me.I bow my head and thank the Lord, for this grand odyssey." ~ Nimblewill Nomad"Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartly, one directionally, without regret or reservation." ~ William H. SheldonThe best trail magic often occurs when you least expect it, and can hit you in the most unusual way. Party Girl found such trail magic by accident in the shelter when she hit her head on a bag hanging from a food hanger. The bag contained pancake mix with a full bottle of maple syrup. Joker found more trail magic hanging on the shelter's post - a Teflon frying pan. Everyone was up early to eat pancakes cooked over an open fire, all supplied by an unknown trail angel.I was the first ready to leave after breakfast and left the shelter to immediately cross Rainbow Stream over two unstable logs. Party Girl and Joker had their cameras ready for Krispy's fall and splash into the chilly water. Slowly I slid one foot in front of the other on the wobbly bridge. The fear of cold water rushing over my body and shrinking my male parts were incentive enough for a successful crossing and disappointment for my camera bug comrades. The trail took me over Rainbow Mtn. (1120 ft.) with great views of Rainbow Lake. Party Girl, Joker, Lorax, Spiceman and I stopped for lunch at Rainbow Ledges (1520 ft.), a rock face with views of Katahdin's peak covered in clouds. My day ended in the afternoon at Hurd Brook Lean-to. Joker commented that this was to be my last night in a shelter, which I totally forgot. Now that I knew this was my last night took on a different meaning with mixed emotions. My dinner tonight was a special meal. During my visit with Paddler he gave me a package of Mountain House, freeze-dried Lasagna for my last dinner on the trail. I ate in silence as I contemplated past events and sometimes people in those events during this epic adventure. Night fell and I did not want the odyssey of 2100 miles to end in sleep. I wanted this night to go on forever. It did not seem possible my hike was almost completed. Was it not just yesterday I said good-bye to Lady Kritter on that drizzly Ide of March morning, not knowing where the trail was going to take me? It seems my life long dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail was just that - a dream. If I fell asleep in the shelter would I wake up in the morning, home in Florida, with my dream wife named Lady Kritter? In the pristine mountain darkness I lay in my sleeping bag, staring up at the stars and silhouette of trees knowing I was not in a dream but, living a dream. It seems in my life there is always a balance, "A Scale of Life" teetering so preciously. Once again, tonight that "Scale of Life" balanced and tipped the scales towards the good. You see, as sad as I was for this being my last night, tomorrow would find me in the embrace of Lady Kritter my wife, who endured one tropical storm, two hurricanes, and a third approaching Florida, who left home to be with me and summit Katahdin. I did not walk the Appalachian Trail alone. Waiting for me tomorrow was the second member of the team, my wife, and our future together.