Date: 2015-09-22
From: 100 mile wilderness

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

So it¢s over now. I wish that I could tell you a riveting story about the last of the trail, the climb up Katahdin, and what it really meant, but there are so many emotions floating in my head that I¢m not sure what any of this means at the moment. We did make the climb at which point I was able to hug the summit sign and take my photo before quietly fading into the backdrop and trying to understand ¢next¢.For this last posting, let me tell you a different kind of story instead. It¢s about incredible compassion and how life has a way of working things out - if you let it.Very early on, my friend Joel came down to hike a section with us. We finished on Roan Mountain on a miserable cold, wet, and windy day. Because of the weather, I made an impromptu decision to have his wife bring us into town. Since there were no hotels, we chose one of the two modest B&Bs. That evening I hung out in the main room and met a couple, Tom and Barbara. They were the only visitors who weren¢t hikers. I clicked with Barbara as I became impressed with her passion and desire to help people. Barbara is a doctor and was moving to Maine for the summer to work in hospital there. Before leaving, she gave me her email address and phone in case I had an emergency along the way.   Even though there was no emergency, we did keep in touch via an occasional email.Flash forward 4 months. We needed a ride after a resupply, out of a touristy town and back to the trail. Tourists are usually unfamiliar with the trail, and most suspected that we were homeless. After a long failed attempt to hitch back to the trail, we were considering the possibility of adding another heartbreaking 12 miles of road walking. Then a previous thru-hiker and friend of Drop Bear, named Fat Man Walking shows up in his RV and our problem is solvedFlash forward 5 plus months. Monson is on the outskirts of the 100 Mile Wilderness and the last possible resupply. We had reservations to stay at an Inn there, a beautiful place on a lake with kayaks, paddle boats, and hammocks. A nice rest in a wonderful place was just what we needed, but alas, because of an accidental double reservation, they had no room for us.   Disappointed, we found bunks at a much more basic hiker hostel.   There we caught up with a couple of old friends while a guy named Zip sat with a guitar and let a relaxing rhythm easily flow. I introduced myself, but only spoke with Zip for a minute or so.You still reading? Wonder what I¢m getting at? Basically, 3 chance meetings with people over a six month period, but they all come together in the end to make this next part possible.Finally, we reach the base of Katahdin. Palomino¢s weight is now in the mid-80s and I truly don¢t believe that she can make it up the last climb. The 100 Mile Wilderness has left me in no better shape as I now have a sprained wrist and hurt back. Add looming clouds and upcoming storms to this equation and things aren¢t looking too good. So, I make the decision to go into the closest town, Millinocket, let the weather clear and get ready for the last climb after much needed food and rest. The problem is that Millinocket is 20 miles away. Who shows up? Fat Man Walking. For the 2nd time on this trip, we load into his RV for a much needed ride. Since most backpackers are waiting for the weather to clear before attempting a summit, the local hostel is full. Sigh, so again, we take our second choice.Now the problem is that we have to find a way back to the trail. There are options, but their timing, expense and distance make taking a shuttle difficult. Who else is in the hotel? Zip¢s dad came down to celebrate his son¢s finish and climb Katahdin with him. They had a car and were going to the exact place at the exact time that we needed and graciously offered us a ride. Amazing really, I only met Zip twice on this entire trail and both times because I couldn¢t stay where I had planned.Now for the final piece of the puzzle. I had never thought about anything past Katahdin and truly had no idea how to get home from there. I began frantically searching for options and it looked like I could hire a shuttle to get me to a town where I could get a bus to get to a bigger town where I could get another bus to get to Boston where transportation options started opening up. This was getting complicated. You¢ve probably guessed it by now. My friends Barbara and Tom come to my rescue. I¢m not talking about them running across town to pick us up, rather a 6 hour round trip drive to meet us, had a room reserved for us at a fantastic hotel, and figured out arrangements for transportation to Boston. Seriously, isn¢t this incredible? Somebody that I visited with for a couple of hours, at a place that I wasn¢t supposed to even stay at, drives for 6 hours, makes hotel and travel arrangements, and treats us to an great meal. I am so humbled and completely astonished by their compassion. Thank you guys ¢ you are truly beautiful.In life, we often don¢t understand why things don¢t seem to be working out the way we planned or hoped. In reality, maybe it¢s possible that things are working out exactly as they should. The common saying out here is that ¢the trail provides¢, almost as if a supernatural force is quietly working behind the scenes. I shouldn¢t have met any of these incredible people, but by chance, I did, and each played a role in my success.Sorry, I got way too wordy here.Friends back home, I¢ll be seeing you soon. Thanks everybody for following my journey, and for the text and emails of support.Rougarou.