Day 151 – Damp

Rain pattered on the tin roof shelter in the morning. I was slow getting going. Breakfast was the usual. I used some of Hot Feets KT tape to cover hotspots. Over the KT tape I put on 2 pair of socks and pulled on wet shoes over the top of them. I eventually got on trail around 9AM. But not before checking out a double seat privy with a cribbage board between them (so you can play while you poo obviously).

There was more wet trail to look forward to. Before long, my socks were soaked through again. My socks were not the only thing getting wet. I stopped at a Eddy Pond to find Hot Feet rowing a boat. While taking a photo of him, I dropped my phone in the water. It still worked but wouldn’t charge the rest of the day (hence these delayed posts).

I hopped in the boat and we rowed around chasing a loon on the pond and exploring an island (see a video on my Instagram story @Barkleycharles). Back on shore, it was a steep uphill to Saddleback Mountain. There were no views and the clouds kept everything damp. There was a consistent blanket of moisture that came down all day.

A few more steep up and downs to ‘The Horn’ and ‘Saddleback Junior’ and the climbing was done for the day. Just shy of 5000ft in total. We had a quick lunch break to eat and dry our feet at Poplar Ridge Lean-to. We ate with Masters, Daywalker, and Swiss Chris.

Given the anticipated storm for tomorrow afternoon we made hostel plans for Wednesday evening. We pushed on 5 more miles to a stealth site with ample room for several tents. That sets us up for a 9 mile day to a road and group shuttle to a hostel.

It’s a needed break for my feet. My fingers are crossed I can find some leukotape. I’m coming to the sad realization that my feet may remain wet for the next 2 weeks. It’s a rather demoralizing thought. I had visions of the great weather I’ve experienced thus far continuing into Maine.

That does not seem to be the case. Much of today’s trail was also a stream. Furthermore, there’s word of a hurricane bringing more rain in the forecast this weekend. I’m using my positive vibes to steer it up the coast and back into the Atlantic (Join me? Please? For the sake of my feet)

Until then, stow away in my pack for day 152 on the Appalachian Trail