Date: 2004-07-20
From: Mt Wilcox North Shelter

To: US 20 (Merrimack, NH)
Miles today: 15.6

Mass PikeMileage Countdown: -655.0I woke up particularly excited this morning. For one reason I will be taking 5 days off the Trail (sort of). During that time I will: drive down to PA; hike the section I missed near Pine Grove Furnace, slack-packing with my friend Teasenberg along with various family members and friends of T'berg; drive back to NH; and take a full zero day, sleeping in my own bed, shopping at familiar stores, and sitting in front of my own computer. I will get back on the Trail on Monday, 7/26.Another reason I was excited is that I would be getting to the Mass Pike today. The Trail goes over the Pike on a pedestrian overpass. I have lived in MA for most of the last 30 years, and have often passed under the overpass. Each time I did, I would see myself walking it one day, having walked there from Georgia. For me it is the most special place on the Trail, perhaps aside from Katahdin. Today I would be walking across that overpass for real.Finally, I am getting physically tired. Partly perhaps because I have been rushing to get to the Mass Pike in time to meet Teasenberg. But in any case, when I ponder most about what I will be doing in my time off the Trail, I know that it is in fact time to get off for a while.I had arranged for my son to meet me at US 20, barely a quarter mile past the Pike, at 3 PM. That gave me plenty of time to walk the less than 16 miles I had left to reach the Pike. I was hoping to go much faster, and visit the Upper Goose Pond cabin, a hostel for thru-hikers just a couple of miles short of the Pike. My e-friend, Aloha!Ann (We have not met face-to-face, but have e-mailed extensively. The story of her thru-hike started in '01 and completed in '03 is quite dramatic. I recommend reading it on this same trailjournals.com website.), will be a temporary caretaker there at the end of August, and has been raving about it to me for weeks.As luck would have it, today's terrain wasn't too tough, so I got to the turn off to the cabin in plenty of time. I met the caretaker on her way out as I was walking in, so wouldn't be able to eat in the cabin. But there was a nice picnic table on the shaded porch, so I set out all my food, preparing to have my last meal on the Trail for awhile.Just as I started to eat I heard a familiar shout from the trailhead. It was Blue Jay who had walked in from US 20 to meet me and to leave some trail magic at the cabin, a few cans of cold Heinekens. Of course, I got a Heineken of my own to go with lunch.After spending a pleasant hour on the porch, during which time the caretaker returned, so BJ could put his beer in the cabin fridge, we set off for Rt 20. It was almost all down hill (an expression often heard from hikers, whether true or not), and almost before I expected it, there I was, standing on the Mass Pike overpass, jumping up and down, pumping my poles into the air, getting beeped at by passing cars, and having my picture taken by BJ. It was definitely the emotional moment I had expected.BJ and I ambled over to US 20, talked a bit over beers, and waited for my son. He soon showed up with an ice chest brimming with beer, soda and fruit juice, and several gallons of spring water. We three struggled up the Trail with it, and put everything under a tree just north of the Pike. I hope that my fellow thru-hikers just behind me enjoy this liquid refreshment.And now, 5 days off the Trail.