Taking Another Zero

I’m at a hostel. My hike today was to have a 60 % chance of rain with a high of 46 with a low of 33. Wind gusts of up to 30 mph. My body is sore. The muscles around my knee are sore. I am tired. Not training as much beforehand is really taking a toll on my body.

The hostel has a free all-you-can-eat cereal and coffee breakfast. I had two big bowls of Cheerios. My ‘hiker hunger’ has kicked in early this time. Food only sticks with me a couple of hours, even when I eat protein.

It took 2 1/2 cups of coffee before the brain fog lifted this morning. When I first came in at 7:00 a.m., they asked if anyone was staying over. They only had 8 bunks left. I told them I would let them know after breakfast. She strongly urged me to decide THEN, as they might be gone if I waited. I went for it. 20 minutes later she announced that they only had 2 bunks left.

Don’t give up on me. Though I’m breaking my rules about fewer zeroes in the beginning, I’m still ahead of where I was when I started last time since I started later then.

The people at this hostel have been very nice and helpful. One guy talked to me about my knee. It feels like it is a muscle above and below my knee in the back of my thigh and calf is injured. It is causing the area of my knee to hurt later in the day and going downhill. It often hurts the worst after I have set up my tent and I’m going for water without my pack (which is often downhill.) The guy here said that since it is not swelling, it is probably just a tear or a pulled muscle and it needs rest to heal.

All of the workers here are past thru hikers. I also have to mention that the place is very clean and nice. They gave us scrubs to wear while they did our laundry. Everyone who took the shuttle to town for supper was wearing scrubs. They told us the people in town were use to seeing hikers in scrubs. The guy at the grocery store check-out asked me if I was a hiker. I asked him how he knew, and he said we had a certain look about us and that we all carried those zippered change purses.😂 Its true!

I wanted to post a very scary picture. I look like a monstrosity. Yes. I do have some wrinkles at home, but not like this. This is an aberration. You should feel privileged that I would show you such a hideous picture. In my humble opinion, this proves I did the right thing in staying here another day. I’m in bad shape, I tell ya! My face is really swollen and I have bags under my eyes. I think it is the grains I’ve been eating. At home, I don’t eat grains at all. Though I’m trying to avoid gluten; rice, oats and gluten free pasta are probably about 50% of my diet out here. Its unavoidable out here, even when you dehydrate your own food, because grains are calories and filler. I am avoiding most sugar, except when I am offered a free soda. Nothing goes down so good as a soda when you first come off the trail.

I met Kudzu on the way into town. We had a lot in common, but she indicated that she is hiking alone. I get it. People don’t want a ‘clinger,’ but honestly…I don’t want to cling, and I don’t like clingers, either.

As an introvert, I form relationships cautiously, but once I make a friend, I’m very loyal…unless that person betrays my trust or good nature. Then I’m outta there with no looking back. Hasta La Vista, Baby! It takes a lot to earn my trust back. If they indicate They don’t want me around…buhbye! Im outta there! Who wants to be a pest? Not me. This is why I hiked alone last time.

I don’t do polite chit chat or casual relationships very well, so I don’t do these casual trail relationships very well. They leave me feeling like I’ve just eaten cotton candy. Sweet, but no substance. Don’t get me wrong- I’ve met a lot of really nice people on the trail and I have already talked to many more people than last time. I just don’t open up and trust people easily. Kudzu and Soap Spot left without saying goodbye.

On a positive note, a sweet little girl who is thru hiking the trail with her family sat down beside me in the lobby and started talking to me. She was probably about 8 years old. She had hurt her knee, too. That was the highlight of my morning and totally unexpected. I wanted to cry. (Yep, Mrs. Crybaby again.) Children are so open and innocent and non-judgmental.

I hope you don’t mind if I have therapy on my blog once in a while. Even Kudzu mentioned she has been more emotional while on the trail. I find this to be very true.

I got my camp shoes in my mail drop here. I had ordered them online before I left and they didn’t arrive before I got on the trail. They are Skechers Goga Max, and they only weigh 5 oz. I love them!

That’s about all I can think of right now. If you have any questions, please ask.

Until next time…

Rebound…kinda rebounding, but not quite.