Along the trail, things are different than in real life as I have come to know it. The people are, almost without exception, very kind and friendly. The trail promotes this environment. We, as hikers, work together and encourage one another to make it all the way to Maine.

I shared a hotel room with a hiker I had barely met, and we spent the time sharing the emotional challenges of the trip. How rare it seems before the trail that I was able to have a complete stranger open up to me. Perhaps there are no strangers on the trail, or perhaps I am learning how to communicate. Either way, it has made my life substantial and meaningful.

Back on the trail, I hiked the day solo, scarcely seeing anyone all day. I got a late start but hiked until dark to get some miles behind me.

At the shelter with me was a hiker who has been struggling with the trail recently. He may be getting off the trail soon. I had earlier written about the possibility of leaving the trail, with new challenges setting in. I won’t be. Blogging sometimes helps me sort out my thoughts, and an extreme thought may appear to test the water. Writing about it helped me resolve to hike until the finish.