Date: 2006-09-20
From: Monson, Maine

To: Monson, Maine
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

The Lakeshore House here in Monson sits on ¢ you guessed it, a lake. Out back are Adirondack chairs with wide arms perfect for holding a Long Trail Ale. The water ripples up this small inlet to gently lap against the tree-grass shoreline ¢ a mere ten feet from where this is being written. Last nights rain front has delivered a breeze that I can¢t decide whether it¢s cold or cool. With all the surrounding orange, yellow and red foliage, fall is closing in on me.Today, being a zero has allowed my past weeks trail buddies to catch up. Chuckbuster & Junco arrived mid-day where we headed over to the gas station/mini market/grill for lunch. In a small town you need to multi-business your establishment to make it all work. The Lakeshore House is also the local Laundromat. Here in the back is the town pub and restaurant. You have to give them lots of respect for connecting so many dots. Oh, the entire upstairs is where all the guest rooms are. Another place in town, Shaw¢s, has been doing a big hiker business this season since getting new owners. But they can¢t match this waterfront location.Yesterday when I arrived, Trickster & What (newlyweds spending their honeymoon as a thru-hike) were here ¢ we hadn¢t seen one another since northern North Carolina. The marriage seems to be blooming.This is an odd time because tomorrow when I head out, only a hundred some miles remain. The trail enters the Hundred Mile Wilderness area and when I exit it, I¢ll be in Baxter State Park and at the foot of Mt. Katahdin. Named by Native American¢s, Mt. Katahdin means Greatest Mountain in their native tongue. It will be the biggest ascent of the hike taking us well above treeline so good weather will be necessary.But those are facts and figures, what¢s really more interesting now is the stage I¢m at. ¢For months I¢ve been moving north, following white rectangles through deep woods and impossibly demanding mountains. Day upon day in rain and heat, in cold and hunger, through four pairs of shoes and a broken wrist, the proverbial finish line is near. Crossing it will mean an end to my way of life. Don¢t get me wrong, I want to reach the end, but I¢m not worn out. Hard walking exercise agrees with me. Seeing moose and black bear and having grouse explode in a thrush to a fright agrees with me. Sunrise and mountain vistas and waking forests of birdsong agree with me. My time on the AT has balanced me, given new order to wants and needs. After my first hike, I was left with a constant longing for fresh air ¢ be it a car or house, windows or porches were always up and occupied. When big lazy spirals are carved in the blue, I now gaze to see if it¢s a hawk or buzzard or eagle. I marvel at the colors of maples and how each turning leaf is as grand a work of art as anything on canvas. The AT¢s great power is the ease it allows one to step out of ¢the world.¢ Reintroducing yourself to wildlife and forests, to waterfalls and boulders the size of houses open your eyes to elements forgotten. They echo another era where adventure was more easily found.I really don¢t know the precise mileage remaining, just that I need to continue north. Starting tomorrow the end begins.