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Just Keep Swimming…🎶

I left The Bates Motel at 7:00 a.m. The owner of the motel drove me to the trail head, and hardly said a word to me. Thankfully, it was not raining.

I had only been on the trail for a few hours, when I came upon a sign that said ‘Trail Magic’. It was a man whose son hiked the trail about five years ago. He does Trail Magic every year. He was making bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches on a little gas grill. He had also made coffee in a French Press, and he had fruit and donuts, as well! It was so good!

There was only one other hiker there when I was there. His name was ‘Lightweight’ and he was Southbound. I have been meeting a lot of SOBOs lately who started at Katahdin and are hiking to Georgia. They have to start their hike up there later due to the snow melt and swollen river crossings, as well as black fly season. I only saw one NOBO on this day! His name was No Doze, and I had never met him before.

I entered Connecticut.Another state down!

The weather started clouding up, gearing up to rain again. The water situation had been much better after the rains we’ve had, and the water source at the shelter was a stream that was flowing strongly. The mosquitoes have been terrible, even biting me after I’ve put bug spray on! I was feeling exhausted. I was the only person at the shelter when I arrived. I ate, put up my tent, and went to sleep! It rained hard overnight.

Mt. Algo Shelter

Mile Marker 1468.1

(18.1 Miles)

It was raining when I awakened. I ate breakfast when the rain let up some. I saw tents set up closer to the shelter. I don’t think anyone slept in the shelter. The bugs have just been too bad. It rained hard during the morning. I didn’t even bother putting on my rain gear, I knew from past experience that my rain gear does not keep me dry, and it was warm! Later, it was reduced to sprinkles, and it sprinkled and misted for most of the day. I never dried out, and I knew my tent would not dry out, either.

I felt weak and exhausted . I hadn’t felt that bad so far on my hike, and I was beginning to get worried. I have been eating breakfast, two snacks, lunch, another snack, then an early supper. I had eaten three snacks, and my lunch by noon, and nothing was perking me up. I had an extra breakfast (Granola with powdered milk) and I ate that around noon. I could barely make it up the hills. It was my hardest day this hike so far!

When I reached the shelter, it looked like the heavens were getting ready to let loose. The water source was a stream next to a bog. The guide said that it drained into the bog (rather than draining out of the bog) but the water was yellow, even after filtering. Since I’d had to fold my tent up onto itself to put it into my pack, even the parts of it that had been dry were now saturated. I set up my tent, and put a sheet of plastic on the upper part of the floor, and my rain skirt in the middle part of the floor. There is a hole in the trash compactor bag that I use line the inside of my pack and to put my dry stuff into, so my quilt was damp. Miserable. I was so tired. I was asleep before it was dark. Again, it rained hard overnight. No leaks from the roof of the tent…but my whole tent was wet, including the walls.

Pine Swamp Brook Shelter

Mile Marker 1485.4

(17.3 Miles)

The only thing powering me the next day was knowing I was going to get clean laundry and a shower that night! Everything was wet and stinky. When you can’t dry things out, they start to smell moldy. This is on top of the BO, sweat and wet dog smell. I put on my wet hiking clothes, ate, packed up and started hiking.

I had been hiking in wet shoes and socks for several days and I have raw spots underneath my toes. Everything rubs when you have soggy feet in soggy shoes and socks. I was still exhausted and feeling weak. I only had a few sprinkles. It was still hot, humid and buggy! I would have 15 miles to get to the hostel.

I saw Freight Train hiking toward me. He had lost his glasses. He thought he left them on a rock! He was hiking uphill, and said he had two miles to go. Poor guy! I knew how he felt.

I felt like a zombie when I arrived at the hostel. After my shower, the rawness underneath my toes was really hurting. Man, did shower and clean clothes feel good! The best yet!

I tried to dry my stuff while my clothes were being dried. I could see blue sky, and the sun was peaking out. It was still warm and humid. It took forever to get everything dried out! When my clothes were done, I got a sandwich at the deli in the grocery store.

I was asleep before dark, and slept the night through. I woke up at 5:30. That is sleeping in for me. My toes feel some better after drying out a bit. I have a headache, I hurt all over, and I feel exhausted. I’m taking a zero here in Salisbury , CT (rumored to be the home of Meryl Streep.) I’ve considered flipping up to Mt Katahdin, and hiking the rest of the way Southbound. It would be extremely anticlimactic, but would take some of the pressure and worry off. I’m wondering if I’ve contracted Lyme disease, but there is no good place to get tested here. I’m taking a zero here to see if maybe I don’t just need some rest.

Salisbury, CT

Mile Marker 1500.7

(15.3 Miles)

23 thoughts on “Just Keep Swimming…🎶”

  1. Flipping north and finishing SOBO is a viable alternative for you. It definitely will reduce the pressure of beating the winter weather conditions later. I have often thought about that anticlimactic emotion also; wonder if any flip flippers can give you some insight?
    I think best medical test for Lyme is the ELIZA (?) blood work and is not a quick test result. Can Bud get an antibiotic script from your MD and have it called directly to closest pharmacy to you? If it is Lyme, then you will have been proactive re: treatment.
    Regardless, hope you feel better soon, prayers-Cindy

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Even on my first thru hike attempt, I felt I needed Mt. Katahdin to keep me going. I’m much more open to flipping this time. I’ve enjoyed myself this time and I want to keep enjoying it–not race to the finish line. I don’t have a doc in AR. Only been to one once. He is the one who told me my Vitamin D levels were too high. ( I think I mentioned this on Facebook….two different discussions.) I also didn’t mention on the blog that I have a mild case of MS, which the doc doesn’t think is going to progress, but said stress could cause flares. So…there are a lot of things for me to consider.

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  2. I like Cindy’s wise advice. My sister and her husband flip-flopped last year when they saw that they were taking longer than expected on the trail. I must say, heading straight to Katahdin seemed to give them new energy. They made the total trail just fine. They took some fun and amazing pictures from the top of Katahdin, and it was no less climactic, IMHO.

    I hope whatever you decide, you can get some good rest and good food while you are taking a zero. You are in my prayers.

    Liked by 2 people

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  3. I look forward everyday for new posts from you. They are so inspirational and encouraging. .. loving all your wonderful pictures as well. Rest well in Connecticut. Praying, knowing that He will give you strength for the journey.
    💕Kay G

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    1. Thank you, Kay! I sometimes forget there are people reading that don’t comment much or say all. It helps to know people are enjoying the journey with me! I covet prayers. Thank you for praying for me. I hope things are going well for you and that your daughter is doing well!

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  4. I think the two previous commenters advice was strong.

    Since there are so many mosquitos, you may have been sickened by one of them instead of a tick. If you do get to get tested for Lyme, have them test for mosquito-borne diseases also such West Nile which is akin to the flu. You’ll feel worn out for quite a while. But, as long as you know the reason why it’d be a relief.

    I know this is individual preferences and choices. But, for me, I don’t think it’d matter if the hike was interrupted briefly, switched (flip-flopped), etc., and etc. as long as I completed the hike. Since Maine (Mt. Katahdin) closes to camping in the middle of October, I’d probably flip-flop just so that I could keep hiking on from Maine back to CT without worrying and stressing so much about deadlines. But, that is just me.

    I pray to God to help you work your way through the trail, make decisions, and with exhaustion/sickness.

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  6. My daughter lived in Rangeley, ME for a time, so I know it will be beautiful this time of year…it makes sense to flip-flop. Thinking of you and sending prayers…hoping you’re just tired and dehydrated and not sick🙏❤️ Enjoying your blog so very much👍

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. Thanks again for sharing your journey and the photos. I look forward to each of your updates. Just an FYI, I read lots of trail journals and it seems to me based on others that started around the same time you did (and considering the time you took off the trail in TN) that you are pretty much on pace with the others. Seems a bubble of hikers 100 miles either side of your current mile location. But as they always say Hike your own Hike. Good luck and prayers always!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Thank you for sharing my adventure–and I really appreciate you letting me know about where other hikers are. No one on the trail really seems to know where the bubble is, so it’s good to know I’m not behind. Thanks for your prayers. 💕

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  9. Kara, how is your fat intake? Your carbs? You said you did better with diet this time around, but maybe you still need more of something? Have you looked at Ritter bars? Someone mentioned them, I have not tried them so cannot speak to their taste. Some of the bars have 600 calories though I do not know if they have fats, etc. If you can add some grits to your breakfast or lunch it may give you some added energy. I was told grits have carbs that last longer than oatmeal. If this is true, maybe you are running out of energy because of that? Maybe you have to much trail left at the end of your carbs? 😀 I do know this, your first hike, you were feeling physically exhausted before this. This time, you have completed 2/3’s of the trail and have been feeling better than before. My point, you have so many miles done that it would not be surprising for anyone to feel weaker at this stage. Let me know what I can do to help.

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    1. I’ve not heard of Ritter bars. I’ll look them up. I remember you telling me about the grits. I had forgotten that. I’m putting olive oil on my food when I remember. Ive increased my snacks. Im trying to eat more when I’m in town. I really don’t know what ‘normal’ should feel like at this point for a hiker. I can understand sore and tired, but Should I be feeling weaker? It just seems like something has changed in the last week or two. I’ve also
      been having headaches. I have decided that I’m going to
      The ER to get tested for Lyme. I feel like I need to rule that out. Other hikers have told me they usually get started on antibiotics before they get the test results. I just don’t feel this kind of tiredness is normal.

      Liked by 1 person

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  11. I’m glad you are going to see a doctor near the trail. I have heard they are more likely to give antibiotics before results are back. The doxycycline can make you pretty nauseous so be prepared to combat it with whatever you can haul around in your food bag. I’m praying for you.

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