Just a brief update here. The rain and mud have NOT stopped. If anything it's worse, because it's getting kinda cold up in the higher elevations. We did a 7 mile day yesterday because I was feeling kinda sick, then we both got wet and it was freezing. I just laid in my sleeping bag all day, shivering, trying to dry off and eventually warm up. Took a couple hours but I eventually did. Thank God the shelter up on that mountain was a four-walled cabin, an ancient fire warden's tower, kinda crummy but kept the wind out.
We had, by this point, lost Enoch and Orangedust (a new-ish addition to our group whom I may not have mentioned. She's cool as hell, and has a little dog with her too, lots of fun). Enoch turned his ankle, apparently, and got into town to rest it. Took us a day to learn this; all we knew was that they never showed up at the shelter the night before. We've since learned, via voicemail-tag and from other hikers, and now from his facebook, that he's made it into town and is looking to do low miles, or maybe take some time off.
Anyways, today I was feeling great, and have renewed my resolve to continue. Despite horrid trail conditions, my mood was pretty good all day. But KBomb's feet, thanks to the constant wet, began to get pretty chafed, and mine weren't doing a whole lot better, so when we hit a road, we decided to hitch into town. Then this guy in a truck driving by just pulled up to where we were sitting (we had not started hitching yet, just snacking and looking at options), and offered us a ride! It's one of those things where you know it was meant to be. When he dropped us off, he gave us $20 bucks too! Best hitch ever!
So we're at the hostel here, just chillin, watching TV and having dry feet. You people back home do not appreciate enough the feeling of dry socks. You just have no idea...
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2 comments:
Hi ya Brandon
as your mom says "it's a sign" that man stopping to give you a ride and $!!! Keep trailing on.
we are so proud and excited for you. There is a song from the 80's that said when you get to the end of your rope keep hanging on. Stay strong. Love from the wisconsin McGinnity's
Hi Brandon! That combination of being wet and cold is something to really be careful of as you get into those higher elevations as you know. Did you get a new pair of long johns? I made it back from the bike tour of the U.P. on Sat., and it was good to be home. It was a tough ride due to the condensed traffic up there, just no expressways to get the semi trucks off the secondary roads. I was avg. 106 plus a day, and I'm still a little saddle sore on Mon. I figure by the time you read this you'll have made it to Maine, can you believe your in the last state of your trek? The whole family is praying that the good Lord keeps you strong to the finish, and maybe eases up on the trials along the way. If it was easy everyone could do it, so this feat really puts you in a select group, well done son, were all damn proud of your preserverance! God bless you, love dad.
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