Date: 2015-08-25
To: The hope is we have so much to feel good about
Miles today: 0.0

Alright, I wanted to wait a week to finish this journal. So, here goes.Summit DayI heard some of the guys getting up at 4:00 AM. I wasn't interested in leaving with a headlamp on so I waited until I saw a bit of light to get out of my sleeping bag. It's not like I got any sleep though, none of us did. By 5:30 I was up and about and by 6:00 I was was back on the trail. A few of us left at the same time so after a few pictures and some excited exchanges of "K-DAY BABY!" I fell to the back to have some time alone. The climb up was about like I thought. Below treeline it was much like the rest of Maine, rocky and steep. Once above treeline it was an insane climb up huge boulders. I actually really enjoyed the climbing aspect since the views were unbelievable and the terrain was a lot of fun. I finished the first section and hit "The Gateway". I stopped to take pictures with Running Boy then headed straight up, finally finishing on the Tableland. After that it was time to cruise and from a distance I could see the top and hear the others that left earlier. One by one the guys before me finished and I could hear the others yelling and cheering. As I got closer to the top everyone cleared off, I threw my poles down and ran up to give it a hug like it was some long, lost friend. Seeing everybody get away from the sign as I came to it was one of my most vivid memories of the entire day.We hung out there for a while cheering everyone else that came up, taking pictures and just admiring the summit. Katahdin is a pretty awesome place and not because it was our endpoint. I can't think of a more beautiful mountain we had climbed.About an hour later I decided to head down and that's where the fun began. Descending was pretty insane and involved a lot of sliding on my butt. I was pretty happy when I finally got below treeline. At the bottom we hung out under some shade before getting a ride to Millinocket. I checked into the AT Lodge, secured my shuttle to Medway the next day, and hung out with the locals at the Blue Ox.Travel dayThe Milanders and I headed out on the shuttle to Medway at 9:00 AM. We were dropped off at a gas station where we bought bus tickets and waited about 10 minutes for it to arrive. After an hour and a half bus ride we were in Bangor, ME. The three of us hopped off, grabbed Wendy's for lunch, and walked the mile over to the airport terminal, making jokes about terrain profiles the entire way. They rented a car and headed out. I spent the next few hours waiting on my flight. My flight connected in Philadelphia, which was quite the culture shock. I hadn't seen that many people in one place in so long. I ran through the terminal since my arriving flight was late and caught the next one as it was boarding. Success! I arrived back in North Carolina around 7:30.I got off the plane, walked out to baggage claim, and saw all of my friends waiting there. I hadn't expected that but it was pretty awesome. After sadly leaving all of my trail friends earlier in the day it was great to see everyone from home. I was predictably starving and asked what was for dinner. My amazing neighbors had gotten exactly what I wanted and left it on my kitchen counter. Others had brought beer and desserts. I'm telling you, spoiled rotten. All of you, and you know who you are, thank you. It means the world to have had your support this whole time and it meant even more to see all of you when I got home. Once home I ate everything in sight then went to bed. I've been tired ever since.Rest of the weekBeing home has been strange. Life has been so simple these past few months and it's been difficult to know where to start with everything. Getting water without filtering it is pretty great as is a car and a convenient grocery store. It's getting better everyday though and it's so good to spend so much time with Mrs. Rock Boat. She says I don't seem normal some of the time but I think it's just because I'm still pretty exhausted. I'm so happy to be back.In the week since I've been home I've already been hiking. I said on the trail I was never hiking again and now I miss it. Go figure. There's still no long distance hikes in my future. I wouldn't mind finding a weekend in the near future to get back out. We'll see. I still spend a lot of time following everyone as they finish. I look at my hike as such a trivial thing but when I see them I gush with pride. It makes my day every time I see another friend post a summit photo.So, that's it. I miss my friends and I miss being outside all of the time. Being home is pretty great though. I'm glad to be back and I'm slowly figuring out how to be normal again. I still don't see the point in showering every day and sometimes have to be reminded to use deodorant. I sadly shaved my beard and have cut my hair. It's hard to give up the hiker trash life.Oh, and Poboy may be getting back on the trail pretty soon. Jeopardy and I have been teasing him about how easy Maine is. I can't wait to see him finish.