Our last day for 2013

We got off the trail   at NH25C/Warren NH. Sassafras's feet started hurting her and we decided enough was enough. We hiked 40 miles of New Hampshire and had a great time. This is the end of this chapter of Sassafras and Kaboose A.T. adventure for 2013. Sassafras says she still has lots of long distance hiking to do, but needs a break.

I plan to get out and hike some of my favorite sections of Maine in the next few months, but plan to do then on 2-4 day trips.

This trip has been amazing. thanks for all you interest and support. Kaboose

2013 part 2 day 1 moose mountain shelter

Miles hikes 11

What a great day.  Mrs kaboose dropped us off at the Vermont/New Hampshire border and hiked with us for a little way in Hanover. We saw the beginning of the shrinners parade in town. I could tell we have been off the trail and was grateful for the mild terain. We meet Teacher and Snacktime from white blaze doing trail magic (thank).

When we hiked into the shelter we heard a loud yell, it was coach lou who we saw in Virginia.  He immediately took a picture of Sassafras and sent it to hikerboy who we started the trail with, to let him know we are back on the trail. In a few minutes Jacko from Australia walked in. We started on springer with jacko and his son the invisible man. What a small world. 

A.T. 2013 part two

Sassafras's feet are better and she wants to get back on the trail. Tomorrow Mrs Kaboose will drop us off at the Vermont, New Hampshire border and we will attempt to hike north to Route 2 just before the Maine border. Sassafras calculated that since she has hiked from Route 2 on the A.T. all the way to the summit of Katahdin, she will have 312 miles left to complete the A.T. If all goes well we we can complete those miles next year. We did not complete a thru hike, but are happy with what we have accomplished.

We all want to thank everyone who help support Sassafras's hike for hunger. The last tally shows $1819 donated to the New Gloucester food bank in support of Sassafras's hike.

Day 114 going home

I am on a bus going home to Maine. I have been on the trail almost four months and hiking without Sassafras is not what I want to be doing at rhis time in my life. I wanf to be home with my family. The separation has been hard on both my wife and I.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and support. I apologies if I have let anyone down. Kaboose

Day 113 Graymoor Spiritual Life Center

7/11/13
Miles hiked 6.4
Total miles 1405.8

Today was my first day on the trail without Sassafras. It was tough emotional.  I miss her very much, but I know her feet need at least two more weeks at home to heal and more important she is happy at home and already has the rest of her supper planed. She already met with her principal and she is doing work to help get all caught up with school,  so her reentry at school will be much easier. I miss my wife very much as well, but we both are committed to having me complete this thru hike. I am blessed in having such a wonderful family. 

My sister who just happened to be visiting from New York gave me a ride back to the trail. (Thanks Wanda) I am at a pavilion at the Graymoor monastery. The place is beautiful and very peaceful.  It is a good place for me to be tonight. There are several other thru hikers here tonight. They seem very nice. I had not met any of them before.  It looks like I will be with a new group after being off trail for a week. So much seems new. This is a whole new chapter in our adventure.  Kaboose

DAY 109-112 Home in Maine

We have been home  in Maine for a few days. Sassaffras's needs to be off her feet for two more weeks. Once we got home it was apparent that she done enough. 3 1/2 months with her Papa is enough, she missed being with people her own age. I had thought she would develop some friendships with some of the young ladies hiking the trail, but that did not happen. We now know she was very lonely. She still has plans to do the Triple Crown and backpack thru Europe. She will spend the rest of the summer doing as she call it "regular stuff" like camp and spending time with Mrs. Kaboose and her friends. We are so very proud of her, she is the strongest person I know. She always sees the good in things. She even thought the Doyle Hotel was beautiful. She was able to look past the decay of time and see the original  beauty of the building.

It is with mixed feeling that I tell everyone that Sassafras is off the trail. Tomorrow my sister who is visiting from New York will be driving me back to Fort Montgomery N.Y. to continue the hike. It will not be the same without Sassafras and I do not know how I feel about it. As a family we decided it is important that I try to finish the thru hike. We do not know when I would be able to try again or if I would able to do it if that time came.

I will continue with the blog. I do not know how much interest it will be to others without Sassafras? 

Mrs. Kaboose will be uploading videos from Harpers Ferry thru Fort Montgomery. I plan to continue to take some pictures and videos. I also do not know how interesting they will be without Sassafras. Kaboose

Sassafras update

Sassafras has rested all day today and soaked her feet in epsom salt and we are applying antibiotic ointment per her doctors suggestion. Believe it or not they look better already.  She has a dr. apt. tomorrow and should see what is next.  I still can not beleive that she hiked 270 miles with her feet in the shape that they were in. She is my hero!

Mrs. Kaboose