Day 2-5
Weather: rainy; cold, rainy, and windy; rainy into sunny; hot sunny
Distance travelled: 21.1 miles
After Jeff’s setback, I hooked up with two new hikers: Rich (Grey Wolf) who is my age, and Ken who is 71 (no trail name yet). We all realized that our eyes were bigger than our muscles, and we are basically some of the slower folk on the trail right now.
Day 2 was crappy weather, and we were all feeling the effects of the previous day, so we stayed put that day. The next day we moved on, though it turned out to be and even crappier day. Between the rain, the chill, and the three stooges, we ended up only making it roughly half way to where we wanted to be. We made the mistake of camping in a gap (Cooper’s Gap) which means stopping in a wind tunnel. Thirty to fifty mile an hour steady winds, combined with rain and almost freezing temperatures made for a rather uncomfortable night. We were saved by some trail magic when a local car camper took pity on us and gave us beverages and food, and even a hat that night, and returned the next morning with hot coffee.
The next day we reached the shelter we were originally aiming for on day 2.
Finally today, day 5, we got the exact opposite weather, being unseasonably hot. Beautiful views, but dehydration was hanging over us. We ended at Woody Gap, far short of where we wanted to be again, and beat, decided to stay in a hostel. A subway sandwich, a hot shower, some cleaning, and a decent night sleep (hopefully), ended this part of the journey.
Right now we are averaging about 5 miles a day, which is well shy of the 8 to 10 a day planned on, but we are still plugging along. I shed most of the gadgets I brought along. They did not really work as I hoped, and are not worth the 15 extra pounds the are loading me with. I will still blog, and take as many pics as I can. It just won’t be as often as I envisioned.
Incidentally, my current trail name is Rotund.
Wind is not friendly to a tent. And cold and wet is not friendly to the body. But you are moving forward. I’ll write what my nephew told me last year: “Even if you’re crawling, you’re moving faster than the guy on the couch.”
Here’s to better weather for your journey.
Your nephew has the right of it. The fact that I even started is an accomplishment. Weather is generally something you just put up with. But getting both extremes right off the bat, while annoying, was also a useful learning experience.
Slow and steady is okay. Sorry about your gadgets. Why Rotund?
I’ll still will be able to do what I set out to do. I will just be posting less frequently really. Rotund stemmed from a humorous convo we had. It might change but it is kind of unique, and a good reminder of at least partly why I am doing this.
🙂 Oh, Mom will be relieved to know you aren’t alone. I had to calm her yesterday.
I called her last night.
You will have to change that name again soon……….. because you won’t be rotund for long…… maybe you can become “The Artist formerly known as Rotund”…………… 🙂
I’ll definitely keep that one on reserve!!
CHEERING FROM HERE. (did you hear that?) Go, go, go. you can do this. Slow and steady wins the race.
Or at least keeps you in it haha
This reminds me of the children’s book “The Little Engine That Could”. I think I can, I think I can… No matter how slow, I KNOW you can because you’re well on your way. There will be many ups and downs and we’re excited to hear about them all. Is the 71 year old friend the same gentleman that stayed close with Jeff on the trail? If so, Jeff mentioned how much he would have loved to have gotten his name before his departure.
His name is Ken and yes he is one of the one’ so took up with. I believe he plans in sending Jeff a picture he took.
go, go , go Steve!
One step at a time! 🙂