Date: 2008-09-05
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-to

To: Hurd Lean-to
Miles today: 11.5

It¢s about 2:30 in the afternoon, the sun is cracking through the trees, and I am sitting on a log about 300 yards north of the shelter.This morning¢s hike went quickly. Just about 12 miles by noon. Piper and I have stopped at this lean-to which is located about 100 yards from the water source.Piper¢s shoulder continues to bother him and we are here for the night. It is better that he rest and not have a problem that prevents him from summiting, which should be in the next 2 days.So I¢m going to (almost) do what I have wanted to do and that is to a take a zero at a shelter, instead of going into a town. I felt it would be grand to just sit in the woods near the shelter, all day, and watch what the comings and goings for various wildlife. So today, I¢ll do a partial version of that.Just sitting here on this log reflecting on my trek, watching and listening in the woods and of recording my thoughts on the end.It¢s likely my hike will be over in 2 more days. We will have a 13 miles day tomorrow and then 5 miles to the top of Katahdin on Sunday. Just a bit over 6 12 months on the Trail; 6 12 months of hiking, recuperating, resting, eating, sleeping, falling, tripping, climbing, fording, and having a grand time on this path that is called the Appalachian Trail. At this moment I am feeling very relaxed.Times like this I seem to think of what would I do differently? There seems to be only one. The only thing I truly regret is that I didn¢t take a full zero at a shelter.Oh, there have been times when I wonder if I should have taken less time off, or should have hiked further on some days, or changed this or that. However, I always remember that on those days off or short hiking days, I always have a great day, and/or met some great people and/or saw some incredible sights, etc. Even when I think of my accident and how I was off Trail for nearly 2 weeks, I look back at the cookouts at the motel, the people I met, the 6th week of rain I got to miss, the rest I got to have. No, even then I have to say, I wouldn¢t have changed any of it.This has been such a stunning and marvelous adventure. Yet I have learned so much about myself on my journey, so many ¢side trips¢ to my psyche, trying to understand the ¢whys¢ of my various actions/reactions to life, why certain situations cause me to change my behavior of act in a certain way.   Sometimes the answers are really obvious and for those times I am satisfied. Other times, though, the answer seems unavailable, and I get to decide if I want to continue to look deeper inside, knowing that I may not like the answer I find or there just may not be an answer, or in today¢s parlance, ¢It is what it is¢. I seem to have a tendency to accept the latter.I do feel more prepared to accept changes in my life as well as to be more comfortable with the inevitable setbacks that come with life. I feel stronger and more relaxed, and as much as possible ready to re-enter ¢civilian¢ life.So now it is just after 4:00 and the sun is starting to dip towards the horizon, its rays broken up by the trees and branches. The wind continues to skim over those same trees, just barely touching the top branches, which seemingly results in a relaxing whispering sound, the only sound in these woods¢¦ahhhh.The latest weather report looks favorable¢¦.sunny tomorrow and cloudy on Sunday, which is when I expect to summit Katahdin.As long as it is not cold and windy and rainy. Actually I don¢t mind the rain, though rain would make the climb more difficult and dangerous. But please spare me the all three; I have experienced hypothermic conditions enough.So the plan for Piper and me is for finishing on Sunday, hitch to Millinocket that evening and go our separate ways on Monday. Piper will fly out of Bangor to home and I will fly out of Portland to Chicago on Tuesday.So the sun has almost completed its journey to below the horizon and it will be dark by 8:00, maybe sooner. With a clear sky, stars will flood the sky.I am almost surprised at how calm I feel; with my journey¢s end so close, I expect some giddiness of sorts. Perhaps that will come tomorrow.At the shelter, Hammer has joined us and we all watch as the rain starts and we wonder about the weather for our final hike tomorrow.