Due to lack of service, days 61 and 62 will come out today

Today was the day I’ve been waiting for. The day I feel like I’ve been training for out here. The day the Camino had really prepped me for. It was the day with the perfectly spread way stations. The first one, the brunch one, was at 8 miles, the next one, the dinner one, at 16 and then it would be another 5 miles to a shelter. All I needed was breakfast, and I could get through the rest of the day on way station food. 

I meant to sleep in but was annoyed when the campsite started bustling so early. I rolled over to check my phone to see what ungodly hour these heathens had woken me up at. It was 8:30. Never mind. I quickly hopped out of bed, already behind on my dream day. 

I shoveled down breakfast (the leftover turkey sandwich I had packed in yesterday for dinner but had saved due to the trail magic. It went down way better than it had any right to.) and got started. It took me a few minutes but I noticed it immediately. I guess I didn’t notice it, but really the lack of it. Pain. Stiffness. All of it was just gone. My body was working the way it was meant to. After so many weeks and months of the not being the case, I was almost startled to feel normal. 

But I did. And so, rather than try and take full advantage of it, I just walked normally. At a normal speed, with a normal gait. Looking at all the sites there were to see. 

When I came up on the first way station it was almost noon. I could see tourists flooding the parking lot but saw rocket and babytalk’s bags outside. I dropped mine next to them and joined them. We chowed down. A thick, juicy, gooey cheeseburger. A large fry. A soda, a share size bag of twizzlers and the star of the show, a blackberry milkshake. We laughed and joked as the food came but soon found ourselves dead silent. Lost in our food comas. When Hey Google joined us, I could barely hold a conversation with him. 

I hurried out the door after eating. I didn’t want to move, but I knew I needed to start digesting so I could do it all over again shortly. I was finally hitting my stride when I passed two section hikers. As I passed, they started asking me questions about my gear. They’ve thought about doing the whole thing, they said, but with a 7 year at home, it was just too hard. 

I politely answered all their questions and chatted with them for a bit but the whole time in my head I kept thinking “you’re delightful, but I want to get going.” Finally, after answer all their questions about packs, base weight and other things, I moved on. 

After 5 or so miles, I needed a break. I sat down on a rock (not to eat more, I swear) and drank some water. I looked down and there she was. A tick. On my leg. It was tiny but I knew that meant nothing. I made sure I had the head and pulled it out. And then I removed a bit more, just to be safe. I wasn’t messing around with ticks. 

The next wayside was known as “the fancy one.” Unlike the others which were overpriced cafeterias, this one was a real restaurant. We decided we would splurge and feast again.

As we ordered a couple sat down at the table next to us. They were talking about needing a charging block because theirs had broken (I think?) and I looked over. It was the section hikers from earlier. I offered them my block. Then baby talk offered them the cords they needed. I had completely forgotten about it by the time I had finished my bolegnese and the best blackberry cobbler known to man. But as I finished the last bite, the couple camp back over. “Thanks for letting us use this!” They said. “We paid for your meal by the way. Trail magic!” They let us thank them quickly but then headed off. 

Babytalk and rocket both said they were too full to hike immediately and sprawled on the welcome center couches. I knew I couldn’t do that or I’d never get up so I hauled my overstuffed stomach up and down mountains for the next 3 hours. Even though it was 22 miles, it felt like a short day because of all the food and what we’ve done recently. 

I’ll continue to listen to my body, but getting into bed right now, I feel good!

Key stats:

Miles: 22

Elevation gained: 4,000 ft

Mile marker: 942

Bears Rocket saw today: 4