Date: 2004-08-17
From: Mt. Algo Lean-To

To: Home
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Well, somehow I ended up home again. I walked into Falls Village, CT after only 10 miles that day. My feet were sore, I was tired and it was really hot and sunny...seems like I should have been in a good mood. But for some reason I wasn't. I has just planned on hiking through Fall Village and heading into Mass that night. But for some reason I moved really slow once I hit the road. I went to the near-by power plant and found the shower mentioned in Wingfoots book. What he didn't mention was the shower is outside facing the road. I didn't see too many cars going by so I stripped down to the skivies and showered. It must have been close to lunch time because suddenly there were cars going by left and right. Falls Village isn't that big, kind of a one horse town, so word could have gotten around rather quickly that another scruffy hiker was showering at the power station and all the bored local decided to drive by and check it out. I swear I saw the same couple of cars go by about 6 times.Anyway, I dried off, put on clean clothes and started hiking out of town. I made it across the bridge and then decided to turn around and go back to the "Pizza" place in town and get some food for lunch. I wasn't in much of a hurry because the feet really were sore. The only thing in town was a hotel, which I found out used to be the pizza place. It was 2:34...the kitchen closed at 2:30. So I decided to have a beer. Then I asked about a pay phone. The only one was a few hundred feet away. I left my pack on the porch of the hotel and called the wife. That was the end. I heard her voice, felt the pain in my feet, the tiredness in my body and I said "come and get me...I'm done". It was hard to say but I knew it was the right thing to do. I felt a lot of pressure leave my sholders when she asked if I was sure and I said yes.So Jan was on her way and I had about 3.5 hours to wait. So back to the bar. Several Long Trails later I was told the kitchen was open again. Luck for me because I was getting a little tippsy. I was happy to be going home but I was sad to leave the trail.Now I am home. I started back to work on Monday the 16th. Its good to be back to work and home with the wife but I really do miss hiking and sleeping in the hammock. I can't really explain it but the trail will always be part of my life now, all the memories, all the great people (hikers, trail angels, people that gave me rides, hostel owners, and everyone else thats sent message or word of encouragement), the pain, the long climbs, the open pastures, the ridges with views that go on forever, thunder storms chasing me down, lightning striking just a little too close, birds chirping, deer, bear, all of it. It was an amazing experience and I am really glad I had the chance to attempt a thru-hike. I will make it to Maine one day but I am now going to do it as a section hiker. I may take a month of two off in another five years and finish it up or I may do it a week at a time over the next several years. No matter what I will make it to Katahdin one day.I hope you have all enjoyed the journal and thanks for tagging along and following our progress. I guess this is it for awhile. Thanks again to everyone!!! I would have never made it even close to where I did if it wasn't for the great support of all of you people out there. Thank You!!~Dances with WolfCookie