Date: 2003-08-31
From: Blue-blaze to Monson

To: Maine 15
Miles today: 3.3

After a great and quite filling, yet early, breakfast at Shaw's, Ma, Pa, Hotdog and I made shuttle arrangements so we could hike the miles between where Hotdog and I got off the trail yesterday, and the road marking the beginning of the 100-mile Wilderness. Eric wanted to go along too, to fill in those miles, so we let him.It was a nice hike, not too many roots and rocks, but enough so Ma and Pa can see what I've been walking on the last 6 months. There was a hill or two, but no mountains. We took it nice and easy with a couple of breaks. It was a beautiful day. Eric zoomed off ahead and a while later, he came back to us. I thought he just wanted more exercise, or had already reached the car and was coming back just to pass the time. He actually went the wrong way after going down a blue-blaze trail to a pond. Oops! We probably won't let him forget that. Any good person wouldn't anyway.Ma and Pa took Hotdog and I to Guilford to go to the grocery store. Since everyone knows shopping on an empty stomach isn't a good idea, we had lunch first. Yummm.... I hoped I didn't eat too much to ruin my appetite for dinner at Shaw's, but was fairly confident I'd be able to eat again that night. I was right.In the afternoon, we all just hung out around Shaw's. Pa and I threw the softball a bit. Ma cut my hair. Some naps were taken. A few beers were drunk. (Drink? Drank? Drunk?) Phone calls were made. I never seem to be able to relax in towns. I always get worn out, and try to catch up on sleep once back in the woods.I stuffed my face at dinner. Turkey, potatos, bread, green beans, milk, and dessert. Mmm mmm good. Was it ever! I felt like I was going to burst, but managed a couple of brownies and a couple of beers before bed.It was fun at Shaw's, meeting new people and talking to those I already knew, especially CeeBee, Coffee and Aloha who arrived around noon. It was CeeBee's birthday, so we bought a small cake while we were at the grocery, lit some candles and gave it to her. She was kind enough to share the cake.Also at Shaw's were Walkabout, Carrotslayer, Don Quixote, Old Corpus, Drifter, Recycled and Eric, all of whom I'd met previously on the trail, plus a SOBO, some section hikers and other NOBOs. It was a busy place, but not to the point of being crowded. I had a good time there, and hope Ma and Pa did too. It wasn't like a hotel, with our own bathroom, but I like places like that because people tend to leave their doors open inviting conversation, instead of at a hotel where we tend to hide in our rooms.It's been fun having Ma and Pa around, although it makes me aware that the end is near. It just hit me a couple of nights ago, before I fell asleep in a shelter, that the end was coming soon. I think I even whispered "Holy Shit!" out loud. I had an image of what it will be like after I return from my summit of Katahdin, and it frightened me. I could see myself coming down from Katahdin, saying some 'goodbyes' to hiking friends, putting my pack into the trunk of Ma's car, and Slam! When the trunk closes, it's over. Just like that. I don't want it to be over just like that. I'm going to need some "weaning" off the trail. Maybe a lot of it.Of course, first I need to complete the adventure... First things first.