Day 38, ~20 miles, Westfield

After breakfast, Little Bird drops me back at the trail and I’m on my own again. It’s raining on and off, but the trail is decent and I’m able to use my umbrella. It’s too warm for a rain jacket so that’s perfect. My sandals and socks get wet but it’s okay.

I pass the time by catching up on American Idol and am disappointed my favorites didn’t all make it to the final three. But they’re all good.

There are bits of trail and bits of road to walk. I’m back in Amish country and see horses and buggies. I pass through the town of Richford which has a bar but not much else a hiker could want.

The underpass at interstate 39 is a big culvert with a creek through it but with a concrete walkway so hikers can keep their feet dry.

Then it’s off to a wayside. It’s raining again so I sit inside on the clean tile floor. As I take my sandals off I find three ticks and casually kill them. Now I’m having my lunch of leftover pizza with three dead ticks next to me. I feel very classy. As I leave, I deposit them in the trash can.

Notes in my FarOut app have other hikers talk about a road shortcut. They talk about walking a ditch and finding a hole in the fence to get to nearby road CH. The suggested Connecting Route adds so many more miles I’m intrigued by this shortcut.

I don’t really see a ditch, but the interstate has a huge shoulder and is not busy, and soon I see the open spot I’m aiming for. I’m almost there as a police car pulls up. Oops! Walking along the interstate is illegal. I forgot about that. The officer is super nice and offers to get me out of there. I’m not the only hiker he’s seen here. I explain I only have a very short way to go and can walk in the grass. He’s awesome and lets me go.

Soon I reach the fence and see the hole. I walk through and reach county road CH, which I can walk all the way to Westfield.

I head for the Mcdonald’s, where I catch up on journaling and wait for my good friend Bag Lady. She contacted me a few days ago and is on a road trip. She has done some amazing hikes and bike travels and is a wonderful kindred spirit.

It’s so good to see her again!