Today is August 19th and in my original plan, I was to be done with the Trail in just two more days, August 21st to be exact. But because of losing my wallet to start with, then some bad weather, then an ankle problem; we now have to add the final topping to the cake, Lyme disease.
  Yes, that's right, I have Lyme disease just as the mileage and time were getting better and the end was near. I felt lousy and the pain in my back was excruciatingly terrible at night that I could not sleep for days on end. Once the doctor diagnosed the problem correctly and got me started on the antibiotics, I started feeling better a few days later with being able to sleep for a few hours at a time to start with. The pain in the back is still there and will be for another few days or until I run out of medication, whichever comes first.

I will be back on the trail at the end of the month and will rejoin my friends in Gorham, NH and lead them to the final dance at the "The Big K". Then I will go to where I dropped off and fill in the remaining part that I had not hiked before.

So until then, I will be resting and recouping till I feel better at the end and then pack everything up and go north with everybody else for the final state.

Till later,
   Grizz