Date: 2013-09-28
From: Stealth site near Polywog Stream

To: Abol Bridge
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day Two Hundred and Four - (17.5) Stealth site near Polywog Stream to Abol BridgeIt was still dark out when I awoke to the sound of Zenmaster and Canadian Bacon talking so we got up early and were hiking by 7am, today was town day and we were excited! When we came to the first lean-to I stopped to write my last trail register entry, this was what I wrote: 204 days on the trail! How will I ever fit back into what society thinks is normal? I will be happy to own deodorant again and brush my hair but I will miss the woods, it's peacefulness and the freedom it gives. I will definitely miss my hammock, it will be hard to have to get used to a bed again. But most of all I will miss the hiker culture! Yes, we have a culture! For the past almost seven months it has felt like I have lived in Utopia, where everyone respects everyone no matter how different they are and where no matter who you are or what you did in the real world you are accepted here. You can wear whatever you want, even dye your hair to look like a clown, you are treated just like every other hiker. It has felt good to arrive in a new strange town and yet have friends there waiting greeting me by trailname. I will have to start using my real name again in a few days, it will feel strange. In the woods we share everything (from food to diarrhea stories), we trust intimately and quickly and when someone offers free food or a drink, a ride or a bed and shower we go, we don't hesitate to think about some kind of twisted ulterior motive like we would in the real world. It will be hard to find a place or people in this world who will compare with the hiker community. To every single hiker I was fortunate enough to hike with (even if it was just for a day) thank you for being part of this big adventure. I propose that when we go back to our real worlds we remember the lessons learned on the trail and how we treated each other. Remember the trail angels and all the food, drinks, rides, homes and lives they shared with us and find a way to take that back to our communities to make the real world just a little bit more like our world in the woods.Other than the nostalgia and the conversations of if we could so this whole trip over again what would we do different or every time we ran into another NOBO thru hiker asking them which day they plan of summiting and if they knew the weather forecast today was purely about just getting to Abol Bridge. Michael is meeting us there and do you remember Lionel from New York who invited us to stay with him during the heat wave and took care of us? He will be there too and will hike the rest of the miles to Katahdin with us! Most hikers don't go to town until their journey is over but Baxter State Park doesn't allow dogs so Abol Bridge will be the end of the trip for Melkie. When we were almost at the road Zenmaster found a case of coke along the side of the trail waiting for us! Thanks for the trail magic! As we walked the road walk we felt like we were in a movie! We started crossing Abol Bridge and stopped to admire Katahdin in front of us. As we were taking pictures Canadian Bacon said isn't that Lionel? Sure enough Lionel and Michael were coming towards us from the other side of the bridge. I let Melkie off his leash and he ran straight to Michael. After the introductions we headed across the bridge together back to their vehicles and then to Millinocket twenty miles away. We are staying in cute little cabins and after very minimal chores and food it is bedtime. Good night world!Trouble