Date: 2009-09-18
From: Bald Mountain Brook Lean-to

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-to
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: light rain

Short hike today. Most of the Trail today ran along water features .... very relaxing hike today. Took my time and just walked. A lot of thoughts going though my mind today! I'll share:1. It's crazy to think the end is this close. Reading the shelter registers, I can tell it will take about 10 days from today to finish. I go into Monson tomorrow and then I'll take the next day (Sunday, 20th) off - Zero Day! I'll know for sure Sunday what my plan will be, but it looks like the 28th will be "the day".2. I've visited so many places over the last 6 months. Tomorrow will be the last trail town during this journey. Wow! Last "zero-day". Last re-supply.3. The adventure has been everything I expected and much, much more. I feel blessed to have seen the sights I have seen. It's amazing how different the Trail can be each and every day.4. It has been an incredible adventure .... but I am ready to stop walking!! My mind is still fresh, and gets refreshed every day. But the body needs a break.5. It feels wonderful to have a dreamed about this adventure for so many years, and now to have made it happen .... more fulfilling than I can describe. Scratch one off the "bucket list" .... and its satisfying knowing that this was gonna be the hardest to fulfill .... time-wise, plus mentally and physically challenging.6. I have had a "life plan" for as long as I can remember. Out here, the time and resources to work on the future are nill. So my life's plan ends with this hike. I'll be in uncharted waters, and I'm nervous not knowing what's next. I've always known what's next and had a roadmap designed to get there. It will be interesting (again, probably only to me) to see how I handle "just winging" things for a while. No doubt, I'll develop a new plan very soon! 7. What have I learned (or reinforced) while I was out here.a. I like structure. I like to have a plan. I'm very comfortable that way.b. I like things clean. And I like taking care of my equipment. It just feels good to me and gives me great satisfaction to not have any gear problems that I caused. I like it when people say "you look too clean to be a thru-hiker" which has happened often out here. The shaved face is a big part, but my clothes and equipment are always clean also.c. I believe God did create the Garden of Eden (Earth) and it looks like that from every mountain top. It's just us who mess it up! d. I like simple .... a lot of people call it boring .... I call it "content". I like vanilla and chocolate ice cream!! It's all the flavor I need.e. I like America .... yep, even the real world off the Trail. I look forward to getting back to it. Oh yeah, if you don't like America .... buy a plane ticket! While I'm at it .... the US Postal Service ROCKS!!8. The Appalachian Trail is a magical journey that I will never forget .... not that that would be possible. So many incredible places and so many interesting people. Six months very well spent!9. "Hike your own hike" is so much the right motto for A.T. hiking. So many people hike the A.T. in so many different ways. There is no "right way" to hike this Trail and there is no "right" equipment. Pick your style and "go!"Time for bed .... more later perhaps. Last trail town tomorrow!