9/8/12 – 1966 miles
We are just .2 miles from having 90% of the trail done. In a few days we will hit 2000 miles. That’s a long way on foot. My knee hurts a little every day but it will take a lot of pain at this point to stop me.
Bog bridge
We set out yesterday from Andover, early in the morning with heavy packs. No one has been sleeping well so the continuous climbs had everyone tired and sapped of energy. We had planned on hiking 15 miles, but when we arrived at a campsite at 12, everyone was ready to stop for the night. I think we were all in our tents by 7:30 and asleep shortly after that.
I was the last one to wake up – which is unusual – and everyone finally began a day feeling rested. The trail was more gentle today, even though filled with the ever present rocks, roots, and bogs, the terrain was more level. We made it 15 miles to the Piazza Rock Lean-to where I am camped for the night.
I hiked for a while today with some people I’ve seen recently and some I have not seen in a long time. Blue Sky, Nooga, Johnny Walker Red, and I walked out ahead of the foursome I’m in and enjoyed catching up on trail gossip.
To see many more pictures and detail of my hike with the Troverts go to http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=12940
You will have just a few miles left by your birthday. I’ll wish you a happy and safe one now. You never thought you would spend your 64th in the woods in Maine. Stay well, and keep the knees strong.
You’ve been on the trail for about 22 weeks. That means you have 2-3 weeks left. You should be climbing Mt Katahdin by the end of the month.
The Troverts have a great journal, with lots of detail and frequent entries. It’s fun to read about the people you have become so close to.