Date: 2019-05-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

All good things come to an end! Today¢s picture is the end of the trail for me.  Where the trail goes on a short section of Route 44 going into Salisbury,CT it makes a right turn.  I did not make that turn, instead walked straight into Salisbury.  Today¢s picture depicts that.  Below the Salisbury sign you can see the double white AT blazes on the telephone pole.  The upper one indicating a right turn.I¢ve felt for a long time that I would not(possibly could not) complete the whole AT.  The going gets much tougher going north especially in NH and Maine.  Although handling the tough rock climbs and steep, rocky descents in recent states, I have no real desire to challenge the ones on steroids coming ahead.  Also to this point I have never had to ford a stream doing more than just getting my feet wet.  The fact that challenging deeper fords are coming up quite frankly strikes fear in me.  Crossing moving water is not my thing.  I¢ve endured numerous falls in rocky areas on this hike and feel very fortunate to have escaped with only minor scrapes and bruises.There is a saying on the trail to never quit on a bad day.  I have done this in the past and later regretted it. Not this time.  I¢ve had two consecutive good, enjoyable and high mileage days with good weather.  So, I am going home.  Not directly.  My long time friend (Jeff, aka Paul Bunion) from the first night on Springer Mountain, GA is driving down from Worchester, Massachusetts.  He¢ll pick me up this afternoon.  Will probably spent a day or two with him and his wife Deb.  Then I¢ll be departing for home most likely on AMTRAK.Did a lot of thinking while hiking the last few days.  My main objectives for this hike were threefold.  0. To prove to myself that after some serious health issues in recent years, that I could still handle the physical exertion levels required of a long distance hike.  I was quite happy with performance of a much leaner and stronger body. DONE 0. To reach my home town of Newfoundland, NJ.  And while there visit my parents graves, visit the few remaining relatives there and just reminisce.  DONE 0. To reach Massachusetts and visit Jeff who I met the first night of 3/19/14 on Springer Mountain, GA.  We have not seen each other since 4/27/14 when we hiked together for several weeks covering GA, NC and part of TN.  Yesterday I came to the conclusion that I do not have to complete MA to see Jeff.  His drive to get me is no farther here than to the end point of MA.  At this point I am just 6.6 miles from entering MA.  So, I consider this goal done too.So, in conclusion I definitely feel that this hike has met my objectives and been enjoyable.  As always the trail has provided challenges, rewards, new friendships, fantastic views and new experiences.  I will always think back on this and other hikes with so many fantastic memories.  And of course, none of it would have been possible without the agreement and support of my 48 year long wife Wendy.  She is a keeper!  Maybe a cruise for our 50th.So Achin signs out from my AT journals.  I do appreciate all who have followed over the years and those who have left encouraging messages.  It has been a fantastic journey.