Date: 2010-10-04
From: 100 mile wilderness

To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Half Left and I have been continuing on with life in the real world. We always have the trail in the back of our minds. We spoke to Low Key yesterday. He is having the same thoughts of the trail as we are. He said to let him know as soon as we plan to start over. I so wish we were planning on next year. Keep looking for us to make the plunge, someday.Great news for Wild Poodle, she summited Katahdin on Oct 4th, 2010. She was with Croft, Peru, Radar and Croft's daughter Erica. She is happy to be finally finished. Read below her recount of the days leading up to her terrific accomplishment. Also see more photos of her final days on the trail under photos.Message from Wild Poodle:Hi everyone, Finished the 100 mile wilderness on Monday, Oct. 3rd and sumitted Katahdin on Monday, Oct. 4th. It was a tough hike up and down the mountain but done at last - was a glorious day - no wind to speak of - warm. My goal reached at last! Next morning at the ER with a stress fracture in my left foot. Yes, guess all the pounding down hill finally got to my foot. Will be on crutches for weeks - that's the rub. Friends Holly and Paul from Fernandina met us as we ended our hike on Monday. This was a wonderful surprise. Brought a cake that said Congratulations! Are your feet tired? The doc at ER said, "Tired and broke." Four of us hiked Katahdin together and Croft's daughter Erica from Miami came up to summit with her. We all dug into the cake right away! Holly brought a berry pie - home made and a bag of beautiful apples. This has been an amazing experience and I'm satisfied that I was able to end it here at Katahdin. Yesterday was busy making arrangements to get Cahoda, Holly and me home and to pick up my car in TN. Holly and I have a rental car through Saturday. We're transferring three thru hikers to Bangdor and Portland this morning for their transportation. Terry from Fernandina is arranging Buddy Passes for us out of Hartford, Conn on Delta to Knoxville, TN. THANK YOU, Terry! THANK YOU everyone who have followed this journey with me and kept things going in Fernandina.THANK YOU Cindy for sending photos from the Trail to my email. As the photos come in I'll just forward them or you can go to trailjournals.com/allrighthalfleft. THANK YOU to Georganna and Marlene for taking care of our home base and my cats. THANK YOU to Amy and Eliza and Ken for mailing my resupply packages and to Georganna for mailing incidental items along the way. THANK YOU Mike and Sherry, Walter and Bernie for minding the beautiful historic building. THANK YOU Bearbag and Cimmaron for mentoring me and always being in my corner. THANK YOU to Holly for being my Trail Angel in many ways. Thank you Paul for driving from Bangdor to congratulate me for achieving Katahdin.THANK YOU to Allright, Halfleft, Cahoda and Croft for hiking with me. THANK YOU to my family. The AT community of hikers becomes your family and instant friends. I cherish this time with all of them and trust that some of our friendships will continue into the future. All for now. Hope to be home Sunday or Monday of next week where I can use all the toilet paper, water, toothpaste I want. Sleep on clean sheets. Have a bath every day - maybe 2 or 3 times a day! Clean clothes or not and on and on. Yes, I'll miss life on the Trail; however, I welcome the conveniences of home. Love, Barbara/WP