Date: 2009-08-25
From: Abol Bridge Campground

To: Katahdin Stream Campground
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: broken clouds

We decided to take it nice and easy this morning. The topo map showed a flat line all the way to Katahdin Stream, and we only had 10 miles awaiting us. The mozzies, however, were TERRIBLE. After packing up and basking in the gorgeous view on Katahdin, we put most of our stinky gear in the rental car James had and slackpacked our way to our almost final destination.Wags, No Nails and I enjoyed the first few miles together, admist the 73 trillion mozzie's blanketing us. It honestly felt a lot like every other day on the trail except our lightened loads. The great and strange thing about the trail is that you immediately feel close to your hiking buddies - there's no 2-month getting-to-know-ya, how-to-hide-the-fact-that-I-gotta-wag-from-so-and-so, can-I-trust-them, can-they-understand-where-I'm-coming-from stage. There's a connection that allows you to be yourself, open up, and share things about yourself that you usually only reveal to friends you've known for years. It's a really freeing experience. And in doing so, you realize that your most intimate dreams, fears, realities, etc are not unique - everybody has a story that resembles your own in one way or other. Folks is folks, is what I say.The hike today was highlighted by the two most challenging river crossings yet. Wags was strong and made it across both (go team!). I was fairly nervous for both of them, and river crossings usually don't bother me. Katahdin forever challenging us. We ran into Moonwalker, Skittles and three men whose names we've seen in the trail registers but haven't met: Smiley, Ruin and HoosierBen. Wags lagged behind a little to enjoy a solitary final hike through the park, and No Nails and I made it to the campground and signed in with the ranger - I'm thru-hiker #162! James enjoyed some flyfishing and showed off his skills for me a little - I've always been a sitting on the edge of the pond with a beer type "fisher." He caught over 30 in just a few hours of fishing! Afterwards, we hung out and enjoyed a lazy afternoon waiting for my dad and sister to show up. Momma and Daddy Wags arrived and set up an amazing fiesta for us hikers. We ate until we were completely and utterly full of delicious food. My dad and sister brought some extra special yummies and I was excited to enjoy all this great food! We all headed back to our shelters (we reserved lean-tos at the campground) and the Crawford/Martin clan enjoyed hanging out around a campfire. I'm anxious and excited about tomorrow. It doesn't feel real - it feels like it's not a big deal, but it actually is. I'm about to fulfill a dream, but I don't feel much different than I did a few months ago. Climbing big mountains has become a regular thing. Like I've mentioned before, I'm still the same person with some slight proportional differences and a new outlook - I haven't morphed into an animalistic, wildchild of the woods. I think I have changed in more subtle ways, though. I'm afraid those changes will be enough to make it hard to fit into my old life, at least temporarily.In many ways, I'm happy and excited to see this journey end. But it's a bittersweet ending. I'm sad to be spending my last night in the woods in the thru-hiker capacity, sad to be saying bye to the trail community, and to being immersed in the woods 24/7.