Date: 2018-09-01
From: Stealth camp in saddle between North and South Crocker Mtns.

To: Highway ME 27/Stratton, ME
Miles today: 5.7

No alarm this morning because a short mileage day is planned. The wind came up during the night and woke us up but we were in a protected spot. However the wind made it feel colder in the tent. We finally got moving at 6:30am. Since the temperature was 51 degrees, the drill was the same as yesterday, keep on the warm clothes as long as possible before putting on the still damp hiking clothes...long pants and rain/wind jacket. We hit the trail at 7:45am.The first order of business was to climb 500 ft. to the top of North Crocker Mtn. Then a moderate descent to a viewpoint that promised views of the Carrabassett Valley below...and, hopefully, cell service. When we got to the viewpoint, we could see Stratton, ME far below, our final destination of the day and we had 2 bars of cell service. That was enough for Spider to send the journal entries for the last 2 days, but not enough for ET to send the pictures. She gave up trying to do it via email and sent them via text messages instead. Spider also took the opportunity to call the Sratton Motel and Hostel to try to reserve a private room. Unfortunately none were available, so our last night on the trail would be in a bunk house.From the viewpoint our descent continued, sometimes moderately steep, sometimes fairly flat, but always with rocks, roots and mud. We finally arrived at ME 27 at 2:05pm. Our hike of the AT for this year was over! Just before reaching the highway, we smelled something being grilled. As we got to the road there stood a guy at a portable grill motioning us to come over...Trail Magic!So we walked over and the man's wife and daughter vacated two lawn chairs. He handed us 2 freshly grilled hot dogs. Let the celebration begin! 2 other hikers who had passed us earlier, were already there. So the conversation immediately turned to hiking the AT. As we ate hot dogs, pastries and apples and drank soft drinks and beer, we exchanged stories. Turns out, the daughter had wanted to hike the AT with her dad, so they had tried a stretch in New York and found out it was harder than expected. They still may hike it but now they are having fun being Trail Angels.Spider called the Stratton Motel for their shuttle and a private room had opened up...Wahoo! The shuttle arrived in about 15 minutes (after the second or third hot dog) and whisked us the 5 miles to the Stratton Motel, pictured in our photo for the day. This is where we'll return next year, for our final section of the AT.We checked in and picked up our "resupply" box. Thanks for sending it Ginny! The box was full of clothes that were a little more acceptable for bussing and flying on our trip home. First things first..a shower! Next laundry, then we relaxed awhile. Finally at 5:30pm it was time to go eat real food.We headed across the street to a sports bar for prime rib and a stuffed burrito. Washed down with wine and beer. The celebration continued! Back to our room for reading and TV watching. Lights out at 8:30pm.Milestones: We passed the mile marker for having hiked 2000 miles of the AT and we passed the mile marker of having hiked 250 miles on this year's hike.