Date: 2018-08-06
From: Crocker Cirque

To: ME RT 27 - Stratton, ME
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: broken clouds

What a great day! It was the kind of day that reminded me that I am a very blessed man. I woke up in the wilderness of Maine...a blessed man for sure. I hiked over the Crocker Mountains...another blessing...I was in awe of the uniqueness and hardiness of alpine vegetation...blessed all the more. I overcame the daily challenges of the AT unscathed...always a blessing. I hit the 2,000 mile (2KM) mark of an amazing journey...blessings mounting. I was able to share over half of the journey with my soulmate...blessed beyond words. The blessing of all blessings on this day is the culmination of 30 years of joy. Today marks 30 years since Which Way said ¢I Do¢ to taking all of her Next Steps with me¢a blessed man for sure. 30 Year Anniversary (30YA). Now that¢s a feat!!!So, the hiking was good, but the journey with the love of me life surpasses it all. It was bound to be a great day indeed. I floated over South and North Crocker, pausing to chat with southbound hikers. I had a particularly nice chat with a young lady named Erin. She passed by my tent sight on her way to bag the Crocker¢s (2 of Maine¢s fourteen 4,000 footers). She was on the way back down when I ran into her on South Crocker. Had two other nice chats with two separate Flip Flop Duos. It always makes me miss the other half of my duo when I see other couples hiking together.Still, I am happy for them and wish them well. It was a long descent from North Crocker to ME Route 27, where my hike would end. Reception was good so I had a nice long chat with Which Way while I maneuvered around mud holes, slipped over roots, and negotiated tricky rocks. I tried to describe all of the peculiar mushrooms I was seeing. The best part, she stayed on the phone with me until I hit the 2,000 mile mark. My biggest (and most important) fan was celebrating on the other end even more than I was on this end (I tend to be a bit reserved in moments like this). We talked about how long ago it seems like it was since we hit the 1,000 mile mark together. It made me realize just how big an accomplishment that was for her, for us. Once I made it to the highway it took about 10 minutes to catch a ride to Stratton. A friendly lady named Judy stopped to pick me up. She had some live tropical fish she had just purchased riding in the front seat. She was trying to find a place for them until I offered to hold them. Offer accepted.Judy dropped me at the Post Office where I picked up a resupply box sent from WW. Another blessing to have someone who knows just what I need! Of course, she had a sweet little Anniversary Card inside the box. Perfect timing indeed.  Lunch at the General Store, shower, laundry, dinner, etc., etc.Okay sports fans, coverage  will likely be spotty on the final leg of the journey and the distances between battery recharge will get longer. Plus, I will need to put a priority on getting hiking hours in (without sacrificing sleep as I usually tend to do). I will do my best to keep you updated on my progress and upload at least one pic. However, that may be all that I am able to manage on some of the days ahead. When I get an opportunity I will upload additional pics as needed. Thanks for understanding.Peace & Blessings - NSElevation Data:Ascent - 3,980Descent - 2,670Grade - 11.7Weather:Day - 87 / HazyNight - 68 / Mostly CloudyOver The Horizon: The Bigelows