Date: 2015-09-27
From: Abol Bridge

To: Katadhin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.9

I got up early and let Katwalk sleep in, and I walked to the local restaurant for breakfast. I ate with Slider, Grey Goat, and Regular Goat. Joker (AKA Col. Sweetcheeks) came in and said hi. He had summited the day before. It is so great to be basking in the glow of these recently anointed thru-hikers. Everyone is energetic, happy, and wants to talk.I had to thumb a ride 20 =miles back to Abol Bridge and I really procrastinated. I learned that a free shuttle would deliver me back to the lodge if I could make it to the campground by 4. So, off I went. I v=brought 1.5 liters of water and a few snacks. 10 miles would be a piece of cheese. I walked to the road out of town and stuck y thumb out. About two miles later, I got a ride. They took me part of the way, but I still had about 9 miles to go. I took the turn on to the dirt road that went to Abol Bridge and walked and walked. Occasionally, a car or truck would fly by me. I tried looking happy, I tried looking earnest, I tried looking pathetic. I tried making eye contact, walking with my thumb out but looking straight ahead, and all manner of hitchhiking strategy in between. I was having NO luck! I walked for close to two hours. Finally, a Volvo pulled over. The driver was very nice, very knowledgable about canoeing, and in fact had a spectacular kevlar made canoe on the roof of the car. He told me about airdrops into wilderness areas only accessible by air. He and his canoe would get flown in, land on the lake and off they would go. He was such a wonderfully nice guy, which is why I felt terrible when we got to our destination and I realized that my pack sat on my hydration mouthpiece and unloaded the full 1.5 liters of water onto the floor of his car. He was very kind and made small talk about lots of different things to distract me from my embarrassment as I mopped up the water. I told him- that will teach you not to pick up hitchhikers! He was very gracious.I walked into the restaurant at the campground because I heard that Rocky Mountain High worked there and I wanted to meet her. She is someone I followed on TJ early on, but not once I started hiking. (TJ burns up the iPhone battery fast!) Sure enough-there she was, 100 pounds of pure badass hiker trash, in all her glory. She is every bit as charismatic and cool and smart and funny as I imagined she would be. I ordered a beer and a BLT and chatted with her and other hikers I knew. Miss Janet came in, posed for some pics, then left with a van full of hikers and at least 15 packs on the roof of her famous van. Tedzilla came in- he had camped at the shelter I blew through at 5 yesterday. I saw Chance, Lost Boy, and Yardsale- some of my favorites. I refilled my bladder and hiked out with Tedzilla, and we kept a quick pace. I had burned too much time at the restaurant and realized I would have to literally run to make it by 4. The trail was incredibly smooth and easy most of the way, and ran next to a river that cascaded over beautiful granite rock slabs. I jogged and walked, my pack light today with only snacks and water. I passed other hikers- everyone was hoofing it so they could summit on Monday. tuesday was going to be a rain day.I never really got tired, I felt great, and I covered the 10 miles in just over 3 hours. I thought about whether I would cry or not when I summited, and the thought made me cry. I pictured myself standing on the sign. Wow. After 6 months, I would be a thru hiker by this time tomorrow. It is a lot to wrap my brain around. I have mixed feelings about finishing. Yes, i want to go home to my family. And yes, I want to stay in the woods-breathing this air, feeling this perfect freedom, carrying only what I need on my back. It is intense, too intense, to think that in 24 hours I will be finished.I got to the ranger station where the shuttle was to pick us up and was thrilled to see Tiger Mike, He had summited that day and was very happy to tell me all the ways in which I might die when I summited. He described the climb as very dangerous, difficult, and life threatening. I was happy about that. I want one last adrenaline rush. Tomorrow is the day. I will touch the sky and the sign. then I will turn around and go home. I just felt like walkin'.