Day 134 – Bring On The ‘Shire

I started to stir around 7AM. People in the other tents around me were waking up but I wanted a bit more sleep. Putting my ear plugs in helped accomplish that aim. I eventually got out of my tent around 9.

We all walked to the nearby co-op again. They were conveniently located, had food, drinks, and a bathroom (which I had been calling the co-op privy). With all the necessary facilities, I joined the bubble of other hikers outside at the co-op patio tables. I got a chance to backflush my Sawyer water filter, the first time since Virginia. The filter had started to clog so back flushing helped to speed up its filtration rate.

We chatted and vortexed for a hot minute and I was eventually ready to hit the trail around 11. It might of been the drinks, or subpar sleep, or a combination of both but we all felt a little off today. The hiking didn’t start out all that challenging, but I personally felt in a fog most of the day.

I walked in silence and with my thoughts for the morning. I was thinking ahead to the upcoming 400+ miles left. The sections I’m  looking forward to, thinking about what I’ll do when I get home, think about what I’ll miss. It’s nice to have the morning as a reflection time, I’ve been doing it for a few weeks now.

With having finished ‘12 Rules For Life’ (very good BTW, I’d recommend it to anyone) I’m started back with the 5th book in the Red Rising Series; Dark Age. It was a nice break in the series but I’m ready to get back to it.

Today distance was nearly 17 miles and close to 5000 feet in elevation gain. It was a challenging one and made even more so by the late start. My feet and achilles started to hurt mildly in addition to my preexisting knee tenderness. Better sleep might help those recover. There were a couple good views along the way. Breaks were had but still kept to short durations.

Neo and I had a conversation about podcasts that we listen to. We’re both into history podcasts and Joe Rogan but it is very dependent on which guests he has on.

Eventually we made it to Trapper John Shelter just as it got dark. Much of the group from the previous night made it here as well to include: Hot Feet, Neo, Mudbag, Toto, Groundhog and Beans. I ate a quick dinner and was in bed by 9. I’m looking forward to catching up on some sleep.

Stow away in my pack for day 135 on the Appalachian Trail