Date: 2014-08-09
From: abol bridge campground

To: katahdin stream campground
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: scattered clouds

today was to be the last approach to mt katahdin, only ten miles. i was up early anyway out of habit and to revel in my last morning in my tent. i took my time to pack up knowing it was my last time packing all my gear. the store at the campground didnt open until 7 so i had plenty of time before the coffee was on. i was hungry so i was glad to have bought a baby ruth and a bottle of root beer last night, i finished the soda and candy for a breakfast appetizer. all my belongings back in my pack i sat on the picnic table watching the river and waiting for the store to open. rumor on the street was that you could get breakfast sandwiches made just for you. i wanted a breakfast sandwich made just for me. the herd of girls came over and plopped down by the store also awaiting the opening. they were all happy and chipper again this morning! hikermonkey came over to my site and we talked for a while until the door opened to the store, everyone filtered in to fill up on caffeine and food. we all waited our turn for the coffee pot and grabbed a little something to eat. the cook was not in yet to make the sandwiches. hikermonkey, trail bunny, and i went out and sat on a rock in front of the store. trail bunny is the wife of long haul, and has been assisting him since vermont by letting him slack pack and picking him up at road crossings. i made arrangements with her to pick me up at katahdin stream campground (KSC) at 1 and give me a ride into millenocket. cindy and my big sister vikki were coming in to hike the last day with me. we had a room in millenocket but they would not be getting there until later so i figured i should secure a ride and get there early. trail bunny agreed to pick me up and run me into town. this was like old days when you had to set things up beforehand because there is no cell phone service in these places. we went back in the store to ask about sandwiches. hikermonkey asked the clerk when the cook was coming in. the man told us he was gonna be here at seven, we all looked to the clock that read 7:30, must be running late. it didnt really matter much right now, we had lots of time to hike the ten miles by one o clock. we resumed sitting on the rock and eating other store snacks. i watched an osprey circling overhead. an osprey is just as exciting for me as an eagle, love seeing them, not to mention i have an osprey backpack. we talked about the trail and who was in the area and who we thought were finishing tomorrow. we got the word that the cook had a flat tire and would be late. we didnt believe any of this nonsense. sadly we got no sandwiches. hikermonkey and i left just before nine heading for ksc. we didnt walk together as both of us wanted to be by ourselves for this last stretch. it was kind of a big deal. the initial trail was along the wide penobscot river and on flat pine needle covered terrain, very nice. i caught up to the herd of girls just before our first river fording. they were singing and carrying on like a bunch of goofs, this group really impresses me. i crossed the river with my boots off, i had finally learned my lesson. on the other side i talked to a sobo on his first day, he was a young marine carrying 60 pounds! he asked for any advice, i told him to get his pack down to 40 pounds at abol bridge and trim it down as he went along. he told me he needed everything he had. well friend, good luck, people carrying that much weight dont generally finish the trail. it does take time to realize what you can live without and what you really need. a couple miles later i came to the side trail to big niagara falls. since i had plenty of time to meet trail bunny i took the side trip to check out the falls. they were quite impressive. i watched the falls and ate a butterfinger candy bar. back at the trail i soon came upon daicey pond. one more perfect maine pond. there were plenty of people around here, kayaking and setting up picnics. at the far end of the pond i was only a mile from the ksc. i slowed my pace to just a walk. this last mile i was gonna take slow real slow. im not real sure why i wanted to slow down but i think it was to absorb all of this last bit of the trail by myself. its still surreal to think im at the base of katahdin. i just cant seem to wrap my head around it, i have gone so far and hiked so long that now it feels like a way of life and now its on the brink of ending. i got to ksc at 12:30, saw hikermonkey waiting for his family to pick him up. i sat with him and waited for my ride. his family came to get him so i waited for trail bunny in solitude. a couple hikers came by that had just summited, they were all smiles and said it was incredible. i was excited for them and myself, i wanted to be all smiles and have the look on my face that was on their face. my ride came shortly after and took me into millenocket. i got into the hotel, showered, and got my stuff in order before cindy and vikki showed up. we went out to dinner and to the grocery for breakfast and hiking snacks. then we turned in early as the plan was to be up at 5 and to the park as close to 6 as we could to beat the rush. could i sleep tonight? would i want to sleep and possibly miss the alarm? this is bigger than a kid waiting for christmas.