Day 113: Rain

I Hear the Drizzle of the Rain

I woke to rain pattering on the van roof. We’ve had rain in the past two weeks, but I hadn’t had to hike in it since the day I got drenched walking into Harriman State Park 14 days ago. I peeked out the window. From the look of the sky, my dry streak just ended.

Northstar had said that Beartown Mountain Road had been pretty washed out to the north of where we’d boondocked at the trailhead. To the south, we’d heard the road was usually in better condition. But my plan called for a 22-mile day that would end at another gravel forest road described as steep and rough. With rain in the forecast, we probably needed a better pickup location.

Since we had zero day on tomorrow’s calendar, we decided to cut today back rather than hiking 26 miles to the next paved crossing. Maine’s not going anywhere, and it’s always nice to ease into a day off and get a jump on tomorrow’s chores. We’d meet at US 20 around noon.

Like a Memory it Falls

The rain picked up as soon as I started walking. The dry tree canopy kept it off me for about 30 minutes, but then it started dripping off the leaves. I was soaked through within ten minutes and hiked wet the rest of the day.

Stopping makes no sense in the rain, except at shelters, so I walked straight through for five hours. Since my iPhone touchscreen is useless in the rain, I couldn’t take pictures, record video, take notes, or listen to my audiobook. I just walked and looked at the woods. How retro.

No one else was dumb or desperate enough to be on the trail in this downpour, so I walked alone with no sounds except the rain and the water squishing out of my shoes with each step. Even the mosquitos had hunkered down to wait it out.

My Mind’s Distracted and Diffused

Eventually, I just started talking to myself. I’d noticed a Facebook post yesterday from a hiker who’d just summited Katahdin. He’d thanked everyone and said that he’d learned so much about himself by thru-hiking. But he didn’t mention any specific lessons. So, I asked myself what I’ve learned. And then tried to answer, but I didn’t get very far.

It turns out I need some distance from this hike before I can answer that question. I remember feeling the same way about our Camino de Santiago hike. I enjoyed every day of that trek, but I didn’t fully appreciate it until after we’d finished. If I’d told you what I was learning during the hike, it wouldn’t have had the depth of the life lessons that emerged in the months after we’d returned home.*

My Thoughts are Many Miles Away

Right now, my head is too full of itineraries, distances, logistics, and chores. I probably won’t be able to see how much I’ve changed until we get back to our normal life. Or for that matter, to find out whether any perceived changes last through the transition back into the real world.

But I had a nice conversation with myself on the topic.

I Gaze Beyond the Rain-Drenched Streets

I walked up to US 20 about 11:30, five hours after I started, and saw two backpacks bouncing up the trail just ahead of me. As I stepped out onto the pavement, I recognized Catherine and Frederick. We’d seen them briefly at the park in Pauling, but hadn’t recognized them. Before that, we hadn’t seen them since North Carolina.

I walked across the highway to apologize for not recognizing them the other night and to ask where they were headed today. Frederick had just pulled out his cell phone to call a shuttle, so I offered them a ride to town, which gave us a chance to catch up during the drive. They are probably the two nicest people I’ve met on the trail.

After dropping them off at the Pittsfield Big Y, the best grocery store we’ve visited on the trail, we stopped at a laundromat conveniently located behind a Burger King. While Northstar watched the clothes spin, I took care of some Kingly business and then finished shaving Gus.

The Only Truth I Know is You

Northstar started his haircut yesterday with a pair of clippers she bought at Walmart, but Gus wasn’t cooperating toward the end. She’d got him shaved enough that he could have hiked today if it hadn’t been raining. We won’t be opening a mobile grooming business, but we did alright. People who see him aren’t gasping in shock. That’s good enough for me.

Daily Stats

• Start: Beartown Mountain Road (Mile 1,543.4)
• End: US20 (Mile 1,558.3)
• Weather: Rain
• Earworm: Wrapped Around Your Finger (The Police) – it’s back.
• Meditation: Lk. 12:15
• Plant of the Day: Water lily
• Goal: Get inside, take a zero
• Best Thing: Helping Catherine & Frederick
• Worst Thing: Rain

*My blog for our Camino de Santiago hike is available on trailjournals.com (2017). You’ll also find a few of Northstar’s posts (aka Kate Fuller), from which you’ll discover that she’s the talented writer in the family.