Date: 2006-09-05
From: Abol Bridge

To: The Birches
Miles today: 9.9

Went to bed early last night with some light sprinkles of rain muttering softly on the tent. After a few showers, the rain stopped, and when I went out for my nightly pee, there was a good moon shining with cold clear stars ¢ and I could see well enough to make it all the way to the bathroom and back.   Awoke early and had a steamy breakfast in the cool of the morning. A bright clear day had me moving early on the trail.   As I hiked, a strange transformation came over me ¢ I just stopped worrying about things! Whatever would happen, would happen. I had done my best to prepare for all eventualities, and now I just needed faith and trust that it will all work out all right.   I at once felt better. I was able to focus again on the trail in the bright yellow light of the new sun. Everything, once again, stood out sharply, and I felt once again part of the environment that I was hiking through. I was at the Information Kiosk before 7AM, and was the first to sign the register to stay that night at The Birches. The forecast at the Kiosk was from Monday, but it said ¢Cloudy and Possible Rain¢ for tomorrow. I focused on the good stuff that was going on all around me, and watched the early morning sun light up the South Face of Katahdin.   After entering Baxter State Park, the trail runs parallel to Nesowadnehunk Stream ¢ I love streams, but to be honest this was no stream, but a broad and swift flowing river. As you follow its course upstream, it soon changes into a gushing, jumping, roaring, falling, mountain torrent. I was reminded of Dave, telling me that his boss claimed to have seen salmon leaping over these very falls ¢ many were however skeptic of her claims.   The footbridge over the lower fork of the stream was out, so it was another ¢Pole and Rope¢ crossing, and again my pack tangled in the rope, but once again I was able to free myself and make it across with dry feet.   The trail then continues on past Big, and then Little, Niagara Falls, gently ascending and covered with a deep silent cushion of pine needles.   Tipper flashed past me with his kilt swinging, and was gone. Met with a group of ladies SOBO to meet with various and sundry family members, finishing their NOBO hike. They said that tomorrow would be a good day to climb according to the weather forecast that they had heard. Nothing they said affected or bothered me ¢ I was on the ¢Stray Sod¢   Then it was past a series of side trails to Grassy Pond, Elbow Pond and Tracy Pond. Soon I was at the Tote Road and then here at the Katahdin Stream Campground. There was no Ranger at the Ranger Station, but I signed in and noted that the posted forecast here is for ¢Cloudy, 5 MPH Winds, No rain¢ for tomorrow. Nothing bothered me ¢ I was still on the ¢Stray Sod¢      Saw Tipper drive by in the back of a Rangers truck ¢ it turns out that he is related to the Park superintendent! I found ¢The Birches¢ ¢ the shelters [there are two] are ¢just up the road a bit¢ from the Ranger Station. I was the first to arrive at the shelter ¢ Tipper never did show up.   Then the fun began. Professor, Rocky and Swampfox arrived, and then came Sir Lancelot The Brave and Freed Bird, to stay in the shelter with me. Paul Corrigan, the Ranger arrived, and then Ol¢ Man and NaviGator. Ol¢ Man and NaviGator took us to their lean-to for dinner of sausages on sticks over the fire, soda, chips and good fellowship.   Paul Corrigan said that tomorrow is a ¢Very Doable Day¢. Officially it is a Class 2. but he says that it will be cloudy, but dry; so all is still on to go.      As I write, I am sitting at the dinner table with all of ¢The Summit Group¢ eating sausage cooked over the fire - good food and company, relaxed and at ease, and still not bothered by the past or the future.      I am reminded of a character in one of my Gaelic Textbooks, who living a simple life in his self built cottage, sitting on his homemade sugan chair and eating, when he felt like it, from his bag of home grown meal hanging from a peg on the wall beside him. He was described as ¢Being at his Comfort¢ I am also ¢Being at my Comfort¢ All is well with the world. We all await tomorrow.Thought for Today ¢ ¢Through many dangers toils and snaresWe are already come¢Twas Grace that brought us safe thus farAnd Grace will lead us Home¢