Miles today: 18.8
Trail miles sum: 771.7
Trail location: 1447.7
Elevation: 5426
Spinning on the turntable: Audio book: The other side of history: Daily life in the ancient world
Orange lily
Orange lily smiling
Have I mentioned that the flowers are magnificent? I found this single bloom down a hill next to a water hole. The water was cool and delicious. The hike down and back from the spring, while short at .2 miles, was steep. All miles are not created equal.
White flowers
I was ridge walking this morning and laughing out loud at some of the recent comments on the blog. I’m so appreciative of the feedback you give us!
Dogwood
I was also suffering on the ridge this morning. Having bounced north on the trail I’m ahead of the hiker bubble. Other hikers have already gone ahead of me, but not too many. Trail maintenance may not have occurred just yet.
Overgrown trail
I was going through sections of 50 feet to 300 feet where the bushes have over grown the trail.
I just lead with my hand and poles and push through. I can only imagine what I must look like when I exit the other side; a look of terror in my eyes, arms outstretched like Frankenstein, and a shuffling of my feet. Dislike.
Today is the 4th of July. I told myself to expect no trail magic. My expectations were correct, there was no trail magic and I believe I only saw two people the entire day.
I miss my family today. I’m sad that Noelle had to return to the van yesterday. I hiked all day so it wasn’t so bad, but I know that Noelle will be alone and feeling poor in the van.
The clock is ticking now and we need to keep moving. While we joke about it, winter is coming. Pre-Kennedy Meadows I would have just stayed with Noelle for the holiday. Now I need to keep moving as much as possible. If I was cranking out 30 and 35 mile days it wouldn’t be an issue, but I’m not.
Steve and Tayler
The 4th of July was a holiday that one of our daughters and I really enjoyed spending together in years past. So many good memories of shooting off fireworks, enjoying sweet, large scale street detonations and laughter.
Today it’s the laugher and closeness of my family that I’m missing. Perhaps it’s the emotional tolls the trail insists collecting payment upon that leaves me full of questions and doubts.
I.could not thru hike for the reasons you mention. Yet I miss the trail fiercely. Monkey Bars
I still have so much to learn on the trail and after I finish the thru hike, but I think I understand what you mean.
We missed you both too so very much. It wasn’t truly 4th of July without you 😢
I thought I was logged in…I am this Anonymous. LOVE and MISS you both! Trish
Haha. I just read your comment then said to Steve, I wish some of these anonymous would say who they are. Then you did! 😂😂😂 love and miss you both too! Noelle
I bet you smell like farts in an old paper bag.
Best of luck to you both as you continue your adventure!
It would be a huge improvement if I only smelled like a fart in a paper bag! I’ve truly hit the offensive smelling zone. Noelle is now trying to Febreeze me.
I love that you are getting to see more wildlife now!
You both are on quite an amazing life journey, and I’m so proud of you for continuing on through the hard times
Love
The wildlife is just great! Wait till you see what’s coming up!
“Winter is coming”
– Ned Stark (deceased)
Day 100! Even more than the Fourth of July aspect I would have expected some kind of magnificence as you went into triple digits duration-wise, but maybe the trail just brings…more trail. It’s a metaphor, I guess.
It is nonetheless an achievement of note. You’ve kept going in the face of multiple forms of adversity! Pain, aches, bad smells, trots, uncomfortable weather, mechanical breakdowns, bureaucracy, unanticipated (and unpleasant) expense, loneliness, intermittent loss of loved hiking/driving partner…you are keeping on. What real and meaningful memories the two of you are creating!
And now with two-flavored video too!
Glad to know you. Proud of you.
I bet you smell like farts in an old paper bag.
Best of luck to you both as you continue your adventure!
Thank you! We would much poorer without your kind words.
Day 100 was odd. I looked at the miles traveled to date, current rate of travel, and recognized that most likely we’ll still be hiking on Day 200.
Mind=Blown.
Words are cheap, you are doing the real stuff. Pretty cool, 100 days of adventure possibly going to 200 or more.