Feet at Shaws, Sept 28
J: Came into Monson from Moxie Pond. 14.6. Made it to Shaws and there's bunk space. My last maildrop of the trail. Saw Earth Dawg here - he finished with Toon. Wow - in a way, I've considered this trip somewhat immortal - as we do ourselves when young. Then a friend finishes, and like any fantasy of immortality, it perishes. Kind of sad and subdued. Four or five of us are sitting around watching a VHS movie. Seuss is in, and Mariner. My feet didn't care much for the hike today. They remain swollen, and I'm losing another nail. I don't feel them, save for rare shooting pains. But they look pitiful down there, swollen a half size, callouses and all.
Talk of breakfast, hitting the PO, then maybe back on trail. We don't have as much affordable time now. A weather system could move in and close the mountain a week or two early. Nothing is forecast, but the locals are fond to point out nothing is certain, either. So 117 miles to go. Anywhere from twelve to 15 mile days puts me finishing just before the Gathering. If the weather gods smile on us. Can't afford a day off, so it's decided to hike out tomorrow.