Hiking through Connecticut was nice. The trail goes through the western part of the state (away from the suburbs and big cities). It was hot, but not nearly as hot as what I was used to in Georgia. I actually enjoyed hiking with the "Canadian Crawler". But, all good things must come to an end. One day the Canadian Crawler left earlier than I did. I caught up with him when he had his lunch break, but he got ahead of me again when I stopped for lunch.
In the late afternoon I began climbing up a mountain. The trail snaked back and forth up the side of the mountain (the technical term is "switchbacks"). After a lot of effort and sweat I was rewarded with a nice view from the summit and a breeze. I enjoyed it for a little while and then decided to press on. I knew by the end of the day I would enter Massachusetts!
I descended the other side of the mountain, following the switchbacks downhill (much easier than uphill!). When I reached the bottom, the trail was level for a while. That's where I saw the Canadian Crawler. He was very upset. His camera was missing! When he was on the top of the mountain he stopped and took some pictures. Then he smoked some "weed". Apparently he left his camera sitting on the top of the mountain. Did I happen to pick it up and bring it? No. Had I seen it? No.
The last time I saw the Canadian Crawler he had stashed his backpack near the trailside and was backtracking up the mountain to locate the missing camera. I have heard that smoking "weed" impairs your memory, this was a classic case of not remembering! I'm glad I never tried smoking it. The only "high" I wanted to get was in elevation on the top of mountains! I pressed on and crossed the Massachusetts state line. It was time to carve another notch on my hiking staff! Mt. Katahdin in Maine was getting closer every day!
2011 update: This morning I weighed in at 170.4 pounds. Jogging, trying to eat right, not starving myself, all of these things have added up. I go to a training seminar today which will last until Tuesday. I have no idea what kind of food they will feed us, but I will try to be sensible in what I eat! I only have 5.4 pounds left in order to reach my goal. It's getting closer every day!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
How Can You Drink Out of That?!!!!!
I had a scheduled food pickup on July 19, 1980 in Cornwall Bridge Connecticut. I was still running behind schedule because of my foot. I was able to walk very well now, but I would have to put on an extra effort at some point to get back on track.
I continued to hike with the "Canadian Crawler". One of the things I noticed about him was his large water bottle. The inside of it had some ugly black scum. I asked him about it and he said it was permanent and wouldn't come out. I shuddered to think of drinking from that nasty water bottle.
One day we crossed a road and hit the jackpot. Well...not literally...but we did find a small convenience store with ice cream, snacks, and cold drinks! After munching on some snacks we began to get ready to go. I remembered that my water bottle was a little low so I grabbed it and decided to fill it up. I asked the Canadian Crawler if I could fill his bottle for him. He pulled out the large, nasty bottle and handed it to me. I went up to the store clerk and asked where I could get some water. He directed me to a small area at the back of the store. There was a large sink along with some soap and wash rags. I used hot water to clean out my water bottle, wadding up a wash rag and shoving it inside the wide mouth of the bottle. After some soap was added and some vigorous shaking my bottle was clean as a whistle. I rinsed it thoroughly and filled it with cold water.
Then came time for me to fill up the water bottle for the Canadian Crawler. I decided to wash it out the same way, with soap and a wash rag and hot water. As I began to vigorously shake the bottle, the wash rag started peeling off all of that black scum! Oh! It was gross! Ten minutes later that water bottle was completely clean. (I had to wash my hands three times after this nasty adventure). The Canadian Crawler was shocked that I was able to get it clean. All he had ever done was rinse it was water. I hate to think of him drinking water from that scummy bottle for all of those weeks on the trail! How could he drink out of that bottle?!!!!
2011 update: I weighed in at 171.0 pounds this morning. More jogging today and trying to eat right. I had a bowl of fresh strawberries last night (yum!) Time for another salad tonight and a CLEAN glass of water!
I continued to hike with the "Canadian Crawler". One of the things I noticed about him was his large water bottle. The inside of it had some ugly black scum. I asked him about it and he said it was permanent and wouldn't come out. I shuddered to think of drinking from that nasty water bottle.
One day we crossed a road and hit the jackpot. Well...not literally...but we did find a small convenience store with ice cream, snacks, and cold drinks! After munching on some snacks we began to get ready to go. I remembered that my water bottle was a little low so I grabbed it and decided to fill it up. I asked the Canadian Crawler if I could fill his bottle for him. He pulled out the large, nasty bottle and handed it to me. I went up to the store clerk and asked where I could get some water. He directed me to a small area at the back of the store. There was a large sink along with some soap and wash rags. I used hot water to clean out my water bottle, wadding up a wash rag and shoving it inside the wide mouth of the bottle. After some soap was added and some vigorous shaking my bottle was clean as a whistle. I rinsed it thoroughly and filled it with cold water.
Then came time for me to fill up the water bottle for the Canadian Crawler. I decided to wash it out the same way, with soap and a wash rag and hot water. As I began to vigorously shake the bottle, the wash rag started peeling off all of that black scum! Oh! It was gross! Ten minutes later that water bottle was completely clean. (I had to wash my hands three times after this nasty adventure). The Canadian Crawler was shocked that I was able to get it clean. All he had ever done was rinse it was water. I hate to think of him drinking water from that scummy bottle for all of those weeks on the trail! How could he drink out of that bottle?!!!!
2011 update: I weighed in at 171.0 pounds this morning. More jogging today and trying to eat right. I had a bowl of fresh strawberries last night (yum!) Time for another salad tonight and a CLEAN glass of water!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tarps at Night!
Sleeping out in the open was a wonderful thing while hiking the trail in 1980. The "Canadian Crawler" and I put our sleeping bags side by side and soon fell fast asleep. I woke a few hours later and felt something. What was that?! There it was again....it felt moist....almost wet. Then I realized what was happening. It was beginning to rain! The "Canadian Crawler" couldn't do anything because he didn't have a tarp or a tent. But I swung into action. I jumped up and grabbed for my pack. I reached into my boot and found my flashlight (I would keep it there at night so it wouldn't get lost and I could find it quick.)
Digging around in my pack I found my tarp, some rope, and the small aluminum stakes that went with it. I started stringing up a line from the tree at the head of my sleeping bag down to the ground a couple of feet below the end of my sleeping bag. I had to put the small flashlight in my mouth because I needed both hands. The small flashlight just fit in my mouth and I held it between clenched teeth. After the center rope was secured, I threw the tarp over it and began putting in the stakes and tying off the corners and sides. All the time the rain got harder and faster! Finally the tarp was up! I put a big trash bag over my pack so it wouldn't get soaked, then I squeezed under the tarp with the Canadian Crawler. He was VERY glad to have a hiking partner with a tarp!
We slept fairly dry that night. The next night it was clear and beautiful. We camped in the open again and fell fast asleep. In the middle of the night I woke up and felt something. What was that?! There it was again....it felt moist....almost wet. Then I realized what was happening. It was beginning to rain! Here we go again!!
2011 update: this morning I weighed in at 171.8 pounds! That is 15.0 pounds lost in 100 days! I have less than 7 pounds left in order to reach my goal and 46 more days. That means I need to lose just a fraction over one pound per week for the next almost 7 weeks to get down to 165. I went jogging again this morning. My wife baked some awesome homemade bread (with fresh ground wheat). I'm eating good and trimming the pounds!
Digging around in my pack I found my tarp, some rope, and the small aluminum stakes that went with it. I started stringing up a line from the tree at the head of my sleeping bag down to the ground a couple of feet below the end of my sleeping bag. I had to put the small flashlight in my mouth because I needed both hands. The small flashlight just fit in my mouth and I held it between clenched teeth. After the center rope was secured, I threw the tarp over it and began putting in the stakes and tying off the corners and sides. All the time the rain got harder and faster! Finally the tarp was up! I put a big trash bag over my pack so it wouldn't get soaked, then I squeezed under the tarp with the Canadian Crawler. He was VERY glad to have a hiking partner with a tarp!
We slept fairly dry that night. The next night it was clear and beautiful. We camped in the open again and fell fast asleep. In the middle of the night I woke up and felt something. What was that?! There it was again....it felt moist....almost wet. Then I realized what was happening. It was beginning to rain! Here we go again!!
2011 update: this morning I weighed in at 171.8 pounds! That is 15.0 pounds lost in 100 days! I have less than 7 pounds left in order to reach my goal and 46 more days. That means I need to lose just a fraction over one pound per week for the next almost 7 weeks to get down to 165. I went jogging again this morning. My wife baked some awesome homemade bread (with fresh ground wheat). I'm eating good and trimming the pounds!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
I Meet "The Canadian Crawler"
When I entered the State of Connecticut in 1980 I was glad to continue to make progress. I have said before that I mostly hiked alone, although I saw a lot of other hikers and often camped at shelters and other sites with other hikers. But during the day I got a slower start and I took a longer lunch. That means I made it to whatever camp site or shelter right at the end of the day. Others often got there early and hung out. Something happened different in Connecticut. I met another thru-hiker known as the "Canadian Crawler". I think his real name was Dave (but I'm really not sure). The Canadian Crawler was from (surprise, surprise) Canada! He moved slowly and that's how he got his nickname.
The Canadian Crawler and I met somewhere in Connecticut and we began to hike together. I mean, we actually were in view of each other all day long. It was quite a different experience for me. I was used to solitude, but enjoyed the company. At night we camped out in the open a couple of nights (we were too far away from shelters). The Canadian Crawler did not have a tent. I didn't either, but I had a tarp that could be setup when necessary. But the Crawler didn't have a tarp either! I asked him what he did when it rained. It was very simple.....he got WET!
The Canadian Crawler and I hiked together for several days. He was older than me with sandy blonde hair and a beard. Sometimes he would pull out some marajuana and have a smoke. He offered it to me, but I turned it down (that was not the first or last time that someone offered it to me, but I always said "no"). We had some interesting conversations and enjoyed hiking together for those few days. Maine was getting closer and closer for both of us!
2011 update: I weighed in at 172.0 pounds this morning. Eating salads and jogging helps a lot!
The Canadian Crawler and I met somewhere in Connecticut and we began to hike together. I mean, we actually were in view of each other all day long. It was quite a different experience for me. I was used to solitude, but enjoyed the company. At night we camped out in the open a couple of nights (we were too far away from shelters). The Canadian Crawler did not have a tent. I didn't either, but I had a tarp that could be setup when necessary. But the Crawler didn't have a tarp either! I asked him what he did when it rained. It was very simple.....he got WET!
The Canadian Crawler and I hiked together for several days. He was older than me with sandy blonde hair and a beard. Sometimes he would pull out some marajuana and have a smoke. He offered it to me, but I turned it down (that was not the first or last time that someone offered it to me, but I always said "no"). We had some interesting conversations and enjoyed hiking together for those few days. Maine was getting closer and closer for both of us!
2011 update: I weighed in at 172.0 pounds this morning. Eating salads and jogging helps a lot!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Battle of the Deer Flies!
Hiking the trail in 1980 was a wonderful experience. I realize that I have written a lot about the towns I visited and the special events that occurred in those towns. But honestly, most of the trip was putting one foot in front of the other up and down mountains in the woods. I had a "Data Book" that listed the distances between certain landmarks. So many miles to the next road crossing, so many miles to the next shelter, stream, bridge, summit, etc. I would usually plan out my day looking at the Data Book, trying to end the day at a shelter (if possible) or at least near a water source (which happened most of the time). The shelters almost always had a water source, although sometimes it was 1/4 mile straight down a side trail (glad I didn't have to carry my pack down and back on those trips!). I needed lots of water. I used water to cook all my meals. And I drank lots of water because it was summer and it was hot!
Sweating up the side of a mountain in the summertime is difficult. But one of the things that annoyed me the most were deer flies. Wikipeda says: "Deer flies (also known as yellow flies) are flies in the genus Chrysops of the family Tabanidae" It also says that the female flies feed off of blood! I believe it! (The males just collect pollen.) When a deer fly would find me it was sure that I would make a good meal. I was determined to keep all my blood for myself!
The deer fly would circle round, and round, and round, and round my head looking for an opportunity to strike. Since I was hiking, I was a moving target. I would swat at the fly and try to shoo it away (which almost never worked). I would often have one circling my head for 20 or 30 minutes. I finally developed a strategy for killing them. I would wait until they were circling just over my head, then I would slap my hands together and hope to crush my enemy. I'm sure you would laugh if you saw me sweating and mumbling at the deer flies and slapping my hands together. No, I wasn't ready for the insane asylum (yet)! After a lot of patience and slapping I would either kill the fly or she would give up and look for other prey. Fortunately this didn't happen every day of the hike, only during the hottest part of the summer and in areas where livestock were kept nearby. I survived the deer flies and kept on moving toward my goal of climbing Mt Katahdin in Maine!
2011 update: This morning I weighed in at 173.4 pounds. I did a lot of yard work yesterday (trimmed a bunch of hedges that had gotten WAY out of control!) I'm still trying to eat good food (right now I have a big salad in front of me for supper). I plan on jogging in the morning, there is another 5K run coming up in August and I need to get ready for it! Having goals to shoot for really helps to keep me motivated!
Sweating up the side of a mountain in the summertime is difficult. But one of the things that annoyed me the most were deer flies. Wikipeda says: "Deer flies (also known as yellow flies) are flies in the genus Chrysops of the family Tabanidae" It also says that the female flies feed off of blood! I believe it! (The males just collect pollen.) When a deer fly would find me it was sure that I would make a good meal. I was determined to keep all my blood for myself!
The deer fly would circle round, and round, and round, and round my head looking for an opportunity to strike. Since I was hiking, I was a moving target. I would swat at the fly and try to shoo it away (which almost never worked). I would often have one circling my head for 20 or 30 minutes. I finally developed a strategy for killing them. I would wait until they were circling just over my head, then I would slap my hands together and hope to crush my enemy. I'm sure you would laugh if you saw me sweating and mumbling at the deer flies and slapping my hands together. No, I wasn't ready for the insane asylum (yet)! After a lot of patience and slapping I would either kill the fly or she would give up and look for other prey. Fortunately this didn't happen every day of the hike, only during the hottest part of the summer and in areas where livestock were kept nearby. I survived the deer flies and kept on moving toward my goal of climbing Mt Katahdin in Maine!
2011 update: This morning I weighed in at 173.4 pounds. I did a lot of yard work yesterday (trimmed a bunch of hedges that had gotten WAY out of control!) I'm still trying to eat good food (right now I have a big salad in front of me for supper). I plan on jogging in the morning, there is another 5K run coming up in August and I need to get ready for it! Having goals to shoot for really helps to keep me motivated!
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