were still some 3 hours early so we took our time at the last shelter, eating a last bagel with pepperoni and cheese and some last snacks from our packs. When we got to the road, Max finally had phone coverage so she called Bob, who had been wandering for an hour or so trying to find the trail terminus, asking everyone around the area, but no one had any idea. Everyone kept thinking he was asking about the Long Trail beer. Eventually she directed him over to the right road and he told us there was absolutely no affordable place to stay nearby, so we hopped in the truck and headed back to New York, where they live. It's a great feeling to be clean and full of Hawaiian pizza!

Well, the hike is officially over and oddly, it feels like it's been much longer than 3 weeks. The Long Trail is actually not such a long trail but its ruggedness makes it feel like it is, I think. To be honest, I expected it to be much harder, but I am glad that it was not because my body still took quite a beating. Technically, I was in training for a marathon these past 3 weeks, since I am running one in October. It was not exactly marathon training, though! I know I wasn't sitting still but it will be a challenge to get back to the training schedule this coming week, which probably has me doing 20 miles or more.

As always, a long hike makes me reflective on life and all the good things about it. Taking on the challenge of a tough trail and completing it, even though it was hard, things hurt, I got wet and cold and bitten to bits, is always such a satisfying experience. I come back to my life calmer, more balanced, happier and feeling like I can tackle whatever life's challenges are. I always think, well, if I could get through the Long Trail, how hard can this work assignment be?! I can take on those big problems because I've faced stuff a lot harder out here.

I realized during this hike that one of the best parts of hiking is all the people I meet and the kindness I experience from them. It's odd that you think of a wilderness hike as getting away from everyone, and yet in doing so, you usually meet some of the coolest people in the world. On this trip, we met Mr. Moo's family, who took us in and fed us, and drove us around for a day. Lots of other people in laundromats, restaurants and stores offered bits of advice about towns and weather, as well as encouragement. We met lovely day hikers and section hikers who gave us their food and treats, plus other great thru hikers along the way. Some people worry about the whole world becoming cynical and calloused. I suggest they take a hike and meet a whole lot of perfect strangers who are kind, generous and willing to do almost anything to help you out. Life is good on the Long Trail. I wake up every day, knowing I will get tons of hard exercise, gallons of mountain stream water (for free!), a few thousand calories to eat, lots of fresh air and plenty of time to think. Who wouldn't want to be me?

Becoming an illegal alien in Canada.