Day 100 - Wuckers! (9/10/2016)

I can't believe it's now a full century of days on the trail.

I had planned to do a small day today, maybe 15-20 miles, but realised that I had some stuff to take care of that could benefit from a zero day. Not the least of which was hanging out with Dad. So today started with a bit of a sleep in and then breakfast. Then Papa Wallaby and I headed to Gettysburg to do a little history.

Then we drove to REI near Washington DC and I bought some gear, and we resupplied at Walmart. It was good to just have a day to hang out.

Miles: Zero

PS: you can all thank Genevieve for the title to this blog.

Day 82 - Unplanned Zero (21/9/2016)

Pancake talked me into taking a zero day with the words "I have a kayak at my neighbour's* place that you can use on the lake." We also decided to slackpack together for three or four days: I would drop her off at the north end of a section, and then drive around to the south end. She'd walk south, pick up the car, and come get me at the north end. We'd be able to carry lighter packs and do reasonably big miles.

Most importantly, I could chill out and kayak instead of hiking today. Which I did.

The only catch is that since Pancake is 8 miles ahead of me, I'd have to do my first official yellow blazing (when you do a section by car rather than on foot). Which was A-OK by me.

Start: NY 17A
End: NY 17A
Distance: zero

* She said it without the U, but this is a proper english blog.

Day 79 - I got the Bluegrass, so bad (18/9/2016)

This morning started with bagels for breakfast, lots of photos of us all with Tim and Kimberley, then a drive to the Bluegrass Festival. I mentioned Tim was a history buff, and today began with a historical tour of the Hudson River's history as a source of ice in the pre-refrigerator period. It was truly fascinating.

The festival was another great day. This one was a smaller‎, local community event, which proved to be far more social. In particular I met Tenley who seemed to know everyone and connected me with several others around town.

At the end of the day, instead of a rainy night on the trail, Tim had us back to the house for another night, and a plan to leave us at the trailhead in the morning.

Start: Tim's house

End: Tim's house 

Distance: 0 miles

Days 63-65 - NYC Baby!! (2-4/9/2016)

This weekend is all about city livin'. Colin, Dave and Rebecca picked me up Saturday and we drove in to our New Jersey hotel. A cab into Hell's Kitchen (hint: taxis are ridiculous, use Uber) and we were livin' it up Big Apple Style.

The next morning we hit a diner in NJ for breakfast, then back to the city for MOMA, tickets to Matilda, and a nightcap (and chow-fest for me) at Réunion tiki bar. If it weren't for the fact that we'd planned to start hiking the next day, I was ready to put my dancing boots on and party 'til the early hours.

Start: Great Barrington

End: NYC

Distance: 0 miles

Days 45 and 46 - Hanover your gear! (15-16/8/2016)

I arrived in Hanover, went to the post office and discovered that my bounce box is missing. My bounce box holds the next map I need, most of my guide for the trail, cables and such for charging my watch and camera, clothes for town, one of my notebooks, and some other stuff that I'd really prefer to have.

So the last two days have been mostly preoccupied with food and finding my mailbox. So far, no one has any idea where the mail might be. I will say, though, that the USPS staff have been extremely generous with their time and energy. With any luck, it'll turn up soon.

Hanover, NH is easily the most hiker friendly town I've ever been too. One pizza place gives every thru-hiker a free slice of pizza, another bakery gives us a free donut or muffin. There's a community centre that will let you store your pack for the day, and offers cheap showers and laundry. There aren't many hostels, but the local college keeps a list of people who are willing to host hikers (trail angels). It's a busy time, so it took me a while to find someone with space but last night I stayed with the priest at an episcopal church just across the state line in Norwich, Vermont. This means that I've officially passed the 20% mark!

The minister also has a puppy, who woke me up this morning by a) licking my face, and b) stealing my cheese. I got up, had coffee, and joined the minister and her puppy on their morning park visit. God I love dogs.

My attempt to hold my feet together...

There's also some very good options for outfitters, so I've been able to replace my shoes, buy a new shirt, get a map to replace the one in my bounce box, and replace Pouch's rain cover!

I wasn't planning to zero here, but since I'm waiting on news about my mail I'll have to. I could do worse - there are some really nice places for food and drink here, and I haven't had time to try them all yet.

Start: um. Mile 425 or so.
End: Norwich, VT (though to be fair, I took a bus from Hanover to Norwich)
Distance: 18.3 miles

Days 10 and 11 - strapping on the feedbag (11-12/7/2016)

I lost 5lbs. Now that we're in Monson I made up some calories:

Lunch- 28 inch pizza with sausage (ate every crumb in a single sitting)
Dinner - 9 chicken wings, fries, beer and a juicy red tomato
Breakfast - 3 eggs, bacon, home fries, 4 blueberry pancakes
Lunch - Black Bean burger, large salad
Dinner - French onion soup, side salad, 12 Oz rib eye with crumbled blue cheese, baked potato with sour cream, and an enormous brownie sundae. And beer.

After a nero and a zero, time to prep for the trail.

Poet, the owner of the hostel here, did a shakedown of my pack and helped me cut almost 10lbs of base weight. It wasn't cheap, but then my knees and hips will benefit as much a if I'd seen the physio (and for the next  2100 miles).

Start: Little Wilson Falls
End: Shaw's Hostel, Monson, ME
Distance: 7 miles (11km)