Cold Nights, Cold Coffee, Pain

Waking up I feel the rain hitting my face, I sit up and find that my sleeping bag is soaked. There wasn’t supposed to be rain but I know better than to trust a weather report.
I think about setting up my tarp but I’m already soaked.
I pull the sleeping bag over my head and go back to sleep. 
A woman from Germany was sleeping on the other park bench near me and, like a smarter person, she put up her tent when it started raining. She told me she wasn’t sure if she should have woken me up. Apparently I was snoring through the rain.
I limp off my park bench soaked and cold. I pack up and head out quickly so I can warm myself up by hiking.
As the sun starts to come out I sit down at a spot with an epic view and eat my cold soaked oats and wash it down with a cold coffee. 

Still, I love this.

Not sure why I miss suffering; I miss overcoming real obstacles.
It’s always funny when people are confused why I spend money to sleep outside on an uncomfortable pad with an uncomfortable pillow.
It’s even crazier to them when I tell them I spend exponentially more money for ultralight gear that is less comfortable and less durable.
I love the simplicity, from point A to point B every day, with the main variables being your food and water. food you can stretch but water you can’t mess around with.
Life is simple, how many miles of water do I have and where is the next water source, how many days of food do I have and how many miles to the next town or resupply. 

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Comments 2

  • Dottie Rust : May 14th

    When you get cold & wet, it’s hard to get warm & dry…should not let this happen!
    “.com”

    Reply
  • Harry Poppins : May 14th

    Years ago ( I’m old ) I read a quote that said Norwegians were not truly happy unless they were cold, wet, and miserable. I’m cannot verify this for Norwegians but I do believe it applies to backpackers.

    Reply

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