The wind died down a bit through the night but I still had to wear earplugs to sleep because the noise of the tent flapping would otherwise keep me awake. By 5:30 the wind was gusting hard again. Folding a tent in strong wind is tricky but I managed.
Since I was unable to buy granola at my last resupply I had a breakfast if whole wheat bread and peanut butter, which was a nice change. I was on trail before the others had stirred.
Views today included lots of lakes nestled in between ridges. Lots of houses or cottages on the shores. It reminded me of a more hilly version of central Ontario.
Bull passed me mid morning and mentioned that he and Ghost were heading to a tavern just off trail five miles further north. I said I would join them. He disappeared in front of me. Ten minutes later I ran into him again. He was stopped because a rattlesnake lay on the trail and wouldn’t budge. But as I approached it slid into a coil just off the trail so we could proceed.
It was a long time before Ghost caught up to me. He said he was feeling under the weather and had to keep stopping to go to the washroom. But he soon passed me. I got to the tavern and they still hadn’t ordered. Ghost and I ordered birch beer, which neither of us could distinguish from root beer, but it was tasty and cane with free refills! Where else but America do you get free refills of top shelf soda? Ghost and I ordered pizzas. Ghost had no food because of how he was feeling. He reassured us that he had probably eaten some spoiled dehydrated food the day before. He has arranged for packages of food he dehydrated himself to be shipped to places along the trail, so he doesn’t have to live on ramen bombs or Knorr Sides. But he thinks perhaps the fat in the dried meat he made has gone rancid. Let’s hope it’s not norovirus. Both of them already had that on trail a month ago.
They proposed continuing for 7 miles and stealth camping; that would make a 22 mile day. There was a shelter nearby but that would only make 20 miles. I left ahead of them since I knew they would pass me. Half an hour later I went off trail to a shelter to use the facilities and reuse my water. The. I continued walking, expecting to find the two of them setting up camp at or soon after the seven mile mark. I did see a spot that would have made okay camping but it wasn’t great and now I noticed there was another shelter just two miles away. So I headed for that.
The shelter was empty. Two guys my age were camping in hammocks so I talked with them. They had seen Ghost and Bull stop by the shelter but apparently they went on to the next shelter so I guess they had changed their minds and were trying for a 30ish mile day. I stayed put of course. Arrived at 7:30, got tent set up, cooked and ate dinner, and wrote this, all in an hour and ten.
Mile 1310.6 to mile 2335.3 = 24.7 miles
Views from another fire tower
Just checking in on your whereabouts, looks like you may have crossed into New York. And found an Italian restaurant/ pizza place. Understand why such is big prize with all the carbs and probably some excellent tomato sauces. The rattlesnake is certainly unnerving. Have you seen others along your route?
Love your commentaries.
This is my second rattlesnake sighting.
Yes, carbs and cheese are great high energy foods.
The trail does bounce between the two states a frw times before settling on New York.