Date: 2016-08-20
From: Rainbow Stream Lean-To - Mile 2,159.0

To: Abol Bridge - Mile 2,174.0
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: light rain

We came out of the 100 Mile Wilderness today. After speaking with others today, it seems I was in the minority who thought today's hike physically was easy. The tree roots were extensive but our group is here tonight.This trail's many miles have given us so much but have also given us various aches and pains. My right ankle squawks whenever I step a certain way on a rock or root but this is relatively insignificant and I feel very fortunate. I haven't fallen on the trail the last couple days but I've seen others fall. We're all aware that one bad step can bring an abrupt end. I watched Spirit of 76 do a dance last night when she tripped near her tent. While hanging my bear bag in the dark a few nights ago, I fell backwards and fortunately landed on soft ground. Better yet, nobody saw it to tease me.I thought I was ready for today as the day began but then realized I wasn't. I wanted that same leisurely pace as yesterday but such a pace is too slow for Subman and Suds. I opted to stay slow and hike by myself instead of attempting to keep up. I'm not writing this to imply anything other than I really wanted what I thought I wanted. With my firm belief that hiking the AT is the most selfish venture that I've ever done in my life, I chose to be absolutely selfish today. What's the saying - "Wherever you go, you take yourself with you." - I think it goes something like that. It wasn't how I pictured today playing out, but there it was. So after hiking a few minutes alone, I realized I didn't want that either. Wow, am I a mess or what. This should be a day of triumph and I was tying myself in knots uncertain how to get in a better place.So I listened to music and it picked me up. Thank you Kenny Loggins. If You Believe, Peace Of Mind, and a few others helped me get to a better place. As I worked over the tree roots I noticed that the trail must be taking me in a northeast direction because reflections coming from the sun's rays on Rainbow Lake were blinding at times. As I was getting out of this funk, my mind went to many places. I thought how blessed I am - with thanks going to each of my parents for raising and providing for me the way they did. I thought about my GrandDad - I wish he was alive so that I could see his happy, loving smile and hear him laugh one more time and hear him tell of the adventures of his life as he asked and commented about this one. I know Mark - blah, blah, blah - yup, emotions were raw and coming at me quickly.I stopped to take a picture near the north end of Rainbow Lake. Blues Brother came up from behind me. How often do we get second chances? Well, this was mine and I happily grabbed it. I thought Blues was long gone, but there he was. So we talked some more trail and about the coming end of this hike. Subman and Suds were still at Rainbow Ledges when Blues Brother and I arrived. Subman really loves sharing views of Mt. Katahdin and this view was spectacular. It was incredible to share this view with all of them. Blues and I each wanted a picture with each other. Blues is summiting Mt. Katahdin tomorrow while I intend to attempt it on Tuesday.Time to move on from Rainbow Ledges and they moved out quickly with what I suspect was adrenalin kicking in. I fell behind several times, but I wanted to be with them today at whatever pace was required. I knew that now. They probably aren't aware that I literally was jogging to fall in behind them only to fall behind again and have to jog once more. I thought about Fresh Ground and how he led Blues Brother, Who-Dat, and me into Damascus as a group saying we were going in together. I managed to hike out of the 100 Mile Wilderness with them. Why all the emotion today? It's coming to an end. Tomorrow's hike is just around 10 miles, hardly a full day's hike. Hiking Mt. Katahdin will be a survival test of sorts that is so unable to be predicted. Spirit of 76 and I stared at Mt. Katahdin from today's Abol Bridge campsite. Spirit was expressing concern about how steep and intimidating it appears. I pointed out how many have successfully hiked it and how we'll hike it too. Then I stepped to her other side and put my head down to display what the other side of me was thinking - essentially that this mountain was going to take us down and that we'll be lucky to get there and back alive. We laughed to overcome our real concerns. All this hiking has hopefully prepared us for this final test.Dinner was everything I could've asked for. It was the people, not the food. It was a mix of old and new. I was with Spirit. Spirit was with Arachne, who has hiked with Spirit so much more than I have. We were having dinner with Squirrel, Bald Whistler, and Cruise Director - who had been with us at White House Landing where we spent some, but not a lot, of time. I think it was a dinner we'll all look back on fondly as we took time to get to know each other when we easily could've spent such time differently. The AT brings people together - I think we all get that.First Aid is a southbounder who asked us for our trail names as we passed each other today. Suds, Blues Brother, and I stopped and spoke with him for a few minutes. Suds and Blues Brother headed out as the conversation came to an end. I lingered, I guess because I linger a lot. First Aid went out of his way to tell me that we were unusual in that we had stopped to speak with him. He said most northbounders tell them their names and then take off. I described what Spirit of 76 would be wearing (mint green) and told him that she'd stop to speak with him too. Over the course of the day, I heard Spirit and Arachne mention First Aid. I could tell that they had stopped and talked with him. Good people. So lucky to be with such good people.