Date: 2007-08-19
From: Gorham NH

To: GentianCampsite 
Miles today: 0.0

I take one more shower at the Barn then I pack up everything. I have four days of food. My foodbag is big with some good things. My pack is repaired. My clothes are clean. I walk to the store and get a footlong sub and a meatball sub and a large coffee. I pack the club sub and eat the meatball sub for breakfast. I am still hungry. I put my pack on and walk to the curb and hitch to the trail head. It is not easy to get a ride today, I don't know why. I begin my hike up a road then reenter the forest where I begin my uphill adventure. I summit Mt Hayes then Cascade Mtn where I run into Wingheart, Castanets and Aussie with Millipede and another older through hiker whose name I forget. They are finishing their break and I begin mine. I enjoy half of my sub and drink gatorade. I take a big fat lunch break enjoying the cool breeze and the beautiful vista from the rocky slab. I decide to get my IPOD out and listen to tunes while I hike. I hike with more power today. I feel stronger and am glad I took the day of rest. My body needed to recharge. I can fly and do, passing the older guy, then Millipede, then Aussie, then Castanets. I decide to chat and fall into his pace which was fine. After awhile we run into two other thru hikers and the pace slowed. I had to excuse myself and go by and had so much energy I felt like I could run. Shortly after I reached camp and had to retrace my steps to go back and get water. I have my tent up on a platform again but had to get creative to get it set up. I ate the other half of my sub for dinner and made two other sandwiches and ate some cookies and candy, then took a swig of scotch. I am now in my little house catching up on my journal. It's a beautiful night, cool, low humidity and right now, still and quiet. I've put my giant food bag in the locked bear box and I'm ready for sleep. There's a nice songbird singing or chirping as the light begins to fade. Tomorrow I cross into Maine, my last state. The end is near. I can taste it and I fantasize about reaching the final summit. Who will be there with me? What kind of celebration will I have? How will I pose for my photo? How will I stop crying? What's next? Will I miss the forest? Will I miss hiking every day? I hope I will be able to transition from this to that. I've been living on the edge for 6 months, purposely balancing everything so I can be out there but not so far where I can't get back. I know I must go back. I can still be in Trail World for awhile longer. I will enjoy it while I can. There's so much freedom here where I reside physically and mentally. I am at home here in the forest. I belong here and want to be here but I know I must go home soon. I have a wife, I have a family. I miss them so and when I am home and happy, I will have quiet moments when I will yearn to be right here. I am strong, I am happy, I am ready to continue this great adventure. When you find something that takes you where this journey has taken me, then hold on tight because you might be surprised at what happens to you. I feel like a completely different person than when I started. This is a fact and I hope to be able to be who I am now when I get home. I must have too much energy tonight, goodnight.