Date: 2015-09-17
From: Abol Bridge campground

To: The Birches Lean-to
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: clear sky

There was a distinct 'last day of school' feel in the air today. But first, we got invited to breakfast by neighboring campers a couple of sites over. They were bear hunters from MD, that had not had any luck with the hunt this week. They cooked us up one of the best breakfasts of the hike: eggs, sausage, excellent potatoes and corn. I was dubious about the corn, but it was really good! They were camping in a way very different from a thru-hikers camp: two enormous tents (one person per tent), with a cot in them, large coolers, a three burner camp stove, cast iron skillet, you name it, they had it. But it sure made it possible to cook a delicious breakfast! Thanks much Bill and Ellis!Because of the breakfast taking longer than eating a bellvita bar, we left a few minutes later that planned, but we were on the road by 7:39 so it wasn't too bad. And yes, the first half mile or so was on the gravel road, before turning into the woods and heading for the kiosk where you sign up for a spot in the Birches. There are twelve spots and we were three and four, so all was well. Only Stretch and Pace Car had signed up before us.Hiking-wise, this may have been the easiest day of the entire hike. The trail condition was excellent, like walking in a well maintained city park, and virtually the whole ten mile stretch was level. So, we took our time and took breaks and sat by the river whenever possible. The first break was around 1 hour into the hike, when I found Sasquatch, Pace Car and Beacon and Nemo, two of the Doylies, on a huge rock in the river.. I joined them, as did everyone else who got there after me. Everybody was taking pictures and exchanging contact info, it was all very much 'last day of camp '. The registration for the Birches had filled up, and only one of the twins (Grant and Scott) had gotten a pot. Hoff (short for Hasselhof, from Dresden) joked that they should just pretend to be one person, never appearing together. They are identical twins and very hard to tell apart. We stopped at Big Niagara Falls and little Niagara Falls and had lunch next to one of the ponds we passed. It was easily the pokiest ten miles Sasquatch and I have ever hiked together and it was quite enjoyable.When we got to the ranger station, the ranger wasn't there, so I went to check out the camp site and Sasquatch went to get water. She came back shortly after and we got the administrative stuff taken care of. I was thru-hiker 625 to come through, but I don't know if that includes the Sobo's. At Harpers Ferry I was 635, so that's not much of a change.It was still early, only around three, so we all had a lot of time to kill until bed time. Low Pro and Tonreg (the German who doesn't speak English) are here as well and we all enjoyed the picnic table (first one in several hundred miles) and ate dinner early. Sasquatch and I went for a little walk and when we returned, everybody had gone to bed, at 6:30!I organized my stuff a bit for tomorrow, since I am taking my own pack but leaving most of the content at the ranger station. And now I'm ready for bed too. Last day tomorrow. Queue the lobster roll and champagne!Exciting late development: Cruise Control made it into the park today and will be summiting tomorrow also!Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?