Skipped most of breakfast, opting to just have a bar while I walked the 3.5 miles to Abol Bridge. At the bridge there was a privately run campground with a camp store where I had hoped to get some real food for breakfast. With an early start I was there a little after 8.
Unfortunately the place didn't open until 9 despite the trail guide stating hours were 700-1900. I hung out under the roof of the porch as rain came and went. Eventually I was able to get inside and buy a coffee but food options were slim, very similar to small gas station. I had a pastry, some chips, and finished off my jar of peanut butter for breakfast.
Next I showered and started laundry. I wasn't going to stay at the campground but I wanted to take advantage of the services while I could. Baxter State Park was the final section and all campgrounds in the park were primitive (no power, water, etc). While working on laundry Candyman arrived and we chatted.
I had coordinated with my partner on this stop, so she arrived while I was doing chores and we got to catch up and have some snacks. Our plan was to camp in Baxter State Park and climb the final mountain together. First I had to hike the AT into the park though, covering another 10 miles of trail, to arrive at Katahdin Stream Campground.
Along the way I stopped at Big Niagara Falls which was nice but didn't quite live up to its namesake.
At the campground I got my long distance hiker registration card from the rangers. Another fun memento for the trip. Since I was not a true through hiker I was not assigned a number, but later I found out Candyman was number 18 for the year. Shows how early in the season we were.
Normally northbound hikers camp at dedicated spots in Katahdin Stream Campground, but with my partner I needed to book a regular site. When I had done the logistics work in Monson all the sites were already taken. So after I hiked to the campground she picked me up and we drove to Nesowadnehunk Campground where I had been able to get a reservation.
We set up the tent and made a little camp fire. Dinner was pizza from a local brewery reheated on the campfire. After a beautiful sunset the stars showed brightly through clear skies. Despite the excitement to finish tomorrow I was able to fall asleep quickly, being tired from a jam packed day.