Date: 2006-09-04
From: Rainbow Spring Campsite

To: Abol Bridge - AT Lodge at Millonocket
Miles today: 11.2

The rain finally stopped during the night and I was up and packing up by 5am. The Professor managed to get on the trail by 6, and I followed at 6:30. I¢m really not in a hurry to end this journey. Only 11 miles to Abol Bridge and one day closer to Katahdin. As I was hiking along on this beautiful morning I started to reflect back on the this amazing journey which began in 04¢ and the reality of the end nearing by the hour. Then the smells of the wilderness, the countless new faces of all the people who have been part of this time in my life. I wonder if we hikers all experience the same feelings as we approach this time in our hike? I would love to get some feedback from hikers if they read this journal. I reached the Hurd Brook Lean-to in pretty good time and the Professor was there for a break. I took a short break for water and a chat and then moved on to meet Navi in the 3 12 miles left of the wilderness. When I got to about the 1 12 miles from the road I began to look for the area where I met Two Step & Moonchild on the trail in 02¢ when they were finishing up their thru-hike. I wasn¢t able to pinpoint the exact spot but I knew I was close when I saw the moss covered rock area. That was such an exciting day and we were really happy to see each other once again. ¢Oh those wonderful memories.¢ When I got to the sign at the end of the wilderness, I took a self portrait and once again had another flashback of 02¢ when we got pictures at the sign. The path widened as I neared the road and to my surprize as I looked to the left, I saw a plastic jar taped to a pine tree so I stopped to investigate. I then took one of the cards that were in it and put it in my pocket. Within minutes I was at the road and Navi was there to greet me with a huge smile. What an awesome filling it was to know I was there and that I had actually had the end in sight. To the left was the payoff at the end of the rainbow, Katahdin in all it¢s glory looked even more awesome than ever. There are to many feelings in me at this moment to even put into words. It certainly is the biggest accomplishment in my life. As Navi and I were walking Abol Bridge there were two men walking toward us and she was telling me who they were. One is named Shorty, and the other is Slow Walker. They both thought that I was a figment of Navi¢s imagination because she had been waiting at the campground for a long time. Shorty is not a hiker, but is waiting for a hiker by the name Jellybean. Slow Walker is finishing up his four year journey. We all sat around and talked for awhile before the Professor came walking in with a big smile on his face. He also said he couldn¢t believe he is here. His seven year journey is nearing the end. I admire him for his persistence in his goal to finish his dream. Rocky & Swamp Fox made it in about an hour later. They really took their time to savor every moment they could. Navi and I are heading to Millonocket to stay at the AT Lodge and we told the gang we would see them tomorrow at the lean-to at the Katahdin Stream Campground for a cookout. Then we drove to Medway to pick up our RV from the repair shop. We both laughed when we got to the lodge because the card I picked up in the woods is the place we are staying tonight. Navi introduced me to Don Coggswell and Joan his wife, the owners of the lodge & the AT Caf© two blocks down the road. They are very sweet people and Don is so proud of his lodge and all his handy work that he couldn¢t wait to show us around the whole place from top to bottom. We both enjoyed the tour of this 105 year old lodge that has been in Joan¢s family since it was built to house the workers who built the mill in 1902. Don has made it his labor of love ever since Don and Joan have been together. You can see and feel the character in the house as you walk threw it. Before the night was over, Navi and I were contemplating buying the lodge and maybe even the Appalachian Trail Caf© since they are both for sale. We have been looking for a hostel of our own for some time and this might be it. We had a great time with Don and Joan and told them we may be very interested in buying the lodge & caf©, and they couldn¢t have been happy to here the news. I myself was thinking more about summiting Katahdin and finishing one journey before starting another one. I¢ll be able to think more clearly when that is accomplished. This has been a day of many emotions, and I¢m sure tomorrow will bring many more.