Miles today: 7
Total miles: 668.2
Today my plan was to go the 7 miles to town, resupply, get some real food and then see how I felt and either try to stay somewhere in town or hike eight miles to the first shelter out of town. Since the boys had spent yesterday in town already, they were passing right through and headed 23 miles. Perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of hiking alone without the boys is something surprising: cobwebs. Since I hike slower than the boys, I am behind them and don’t even think about cobwebs. But hiking without the boys means I am the first one on the trail in the morning. Which means all the cobwebs that spiders have built overnight are fresh and I walk into them. Constantly. At shin level, thigh level, eye level, getting on my arms and legs and worst of all, in my face. It’s even worse when I’m sweaty and they stick to me even more. It’s just a small thing but it was SO nice this morning to have the boys back and be rid of this nuisance. I woke up with a sore back and as I walked I just couldn’t get my pack to sit right so it didn’t hurt. About an hour into hiking, Cool Blue passed me and asked how I was. When I told him my back was bothering me he said I shouldn’t put rocks in my bag. My jaw dropped. He didn’t. Oh but he did. When I was changing this morning the boys snuck a rock in my pack. I made Blue take it out and felt instant relief. It was SO heavy. I was so annoyed but also have to respect them for getting me good. The next few miles to town felt a lot better without lugging that rock around.
Just outside of town, I caught up to the boys and they announced they were coming to town with me! Wolf Bird was meeting a friend who might take Mabel for a week. Wolf bird and Cool Blue are going to Chicago for a week or so (blue for a wedding, WB for the adventure). They might hitch there or ride the rails (illegally ride trains…). I don’t know. Anyway, I was happy to hear I’d have company in town.
We tried hitching for a while and it seemed like no one would stop. Then a car actually turned around to go the opposite direction to pick us up. The driver, Bob, said he’d actually picked up and hosted an AT hiker a couple weeks back. And who was this hiker you ask? Our very own Shuffle! She’d stayed with Bob and his wife, family friends of hers, when she went through Great barrington. Small world! He even offered to let us stay with him. What a great guy.
Once in town we ate and resupplied and Wolf birds friend Andrew came and met us. He offered his place if we wanted to stay. The idea of showers and beds and avoiding a storm that was supposed to come this afternoon convinced us to accept his offer. We’ve had a great day relaxing and are all clean and smell fresh. Cool blue even cooked us dinner and we had ice cream for dessert. It’s been a great stay but we are heading out tomorrow and need to make some miles!
Lately I feel like I need to rush. I am at least a week behind the next Southbounder and there are very few behind me. I don’t like hiking completely alone so I hope to catch up to more people. Not sure if that will happen or if there is even really a “group” to catch or if its mostly just individuals alone. When the boys get off trail, Blondie will be the only one near me but he may be able to walk way more Miles than me so we shall see. Connecticut is coming soon though and then NY shortly after. I like all the state borders–it helps me feel like I’m making real progress.