Date: 2011-10-02
From: Pollywog stream Stelth

To: Abol Bridge (Golden Road)
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: overcast clouds

We decided that no matter what we are going to make it out of the 100 mile wilderness where Hopeful will meet up once again with his wife, and I will meet back up with my birth family. To make sure this happens Hopeful goes into master Sargon mood and tucks his head down and walks...and walks...ad walks. When this happens you also have to go your own speed to ensure that you make it to the end of the day. I personally can not put my head down and walk all day without stopping so I find myself either hiking ahead and waiting for them when I break. Or just stop for a few minutes behind them and catch back up after a short break. When hiking with them I always find myself talking or listening to someone else talk to pass the time. We got to hike next to a roaring powerful gorge today. The gorge allowed us to see a few waterfalls, along with seeing in turn against a rock as it passes through a tight rocky spot in the rocks. I've learned gorges makes me have butterflies, as it messes with my fear of strong powerful water and drowning. At the top of the gorge was Rainbow stream shelter, which was like a typical 3 sided building and a tin roof. Although this shelter's floor had sticks (like baseball bats) flooring instead of flat wooding. Also to leave the shelter heading north you had to balance on two small logs that bend in the middle and slightly roll side to side to cross the creek. Trekking poles are life savers for creek crossings like this, or just grabbing to sticks. We got to walk around a number of lakes some of good size. I keep wishing that there would be a kayak at some of the lakes so we can take a break from hiking and enjoy the land around by water. As all they have that far north is water because it used to be all ice at one point in time. I wrote in my last log book heading north at the Hurd Brook Lean-to. It is hard sometimes to wrap my head around that I made it to Maine and didn't miss a peace of the trail. Plus I am nearing the end of all the white blazes heading one way. "Guinness," "Natedog" and me were leading the pack coming out of the shelter, and were wondering if "Hopeful" and "Sparky" were going to catch up before reaching the road. Soon there after I looked behind me to see Hopeful having a grin on his face from ear to ear, and not hiking but instead doing the hiker trout down the trail. I couldn't help myself than not to laugh, as I have hiked with him for more than a month and have never seen him trout nor run. I guess he got excited and realized that Mrs. Hopeful was at the bottom waiting for him. The group (excluding Sparky) made it to the sign says to the Southbounders that they are about to enter into the 100 mile wilderness. Carry 10 days of food....no way out until the end...and so much more to scare them. The group houted and hollered when reaching the sign, as the ending of that point meant more than anyone could believe. When Sparky made it we all cheered for him when he crossed the sign and hi fives and hugs were passed around the groups. We then headed over to the Golden Road with the Lovely Hopeful leading us and went to Abol Bridge campground, singing victory songs and having a ball of fun. I got to spend the night with my real family sharing my experiences and hearing all that I missed out of while I was gone. My brother didn't enjoy my hiker stench, even after showering so he decided to inform me that I need to go back and try again. I enjoyed actually putting on a cotton shirt and jeans..real jeans. "each day has a victory in it, you just have to realize and celebrate it."