Watering Hole Highlights: Mary’s @ 145.4

I carry everything I need within my backpack. The only big changes here are food and water. Food, I resupply every 4-6 days or so in a town. Water, I find in streams, the occasional trough, and caches that are maintained by Trail Angels. With my handy dandy water filter, nearly every source becomes drinkable! 

Day 10: Trail Angel Mary’s Water Cache 

I woke early again. Alone and started walking. I was cruising to Mary’s water cache but the plan was to post up there all day. I was set to arrive before 10 so I wasn’t sure what to do! That isn’t even the heat of day yet. So, I took a little break for stretching. Ate my Israeli couscous (the fat lil pasta balls) that cold-soaked quite nicely overnight with tuna and nuts and yum it was good!

I made it to Mary’s at 9:30 ish. As I approached I saw a sign that read “still here,” a bunch of hikers underneath a shade sail, and some lifesize photos of notable men. I dropped my pack and perused the little free library. I snagged a couple of poems to read.  

When Mary Arrived 

We were pleasantly surprised to see Mary arrive to fill her cache. I overhear many hikers approach her and get the scoop: 

• She doesn’t accept donations. She says it doesn’t cost much. 
• She fills it all by hand. 
• She doesn’t want you to help her, it’s quicker if she just does it. 
• She can’t let her foster puppies out of the truck because they eat hiker poop and then throw it up at her home! (Hikers, please poop further away and dig deeper holes) 

Check out this amazing water tank! 

After my failed nap/ successful sunbathing, I joined the group again. Some folks gave me mashed potatoes as I was low on food. 

Tavi had mentioned she was interested in doing some yoga if I was open to teaching. Hm. Maybe this would be just the place for yoga. 

I led a small flow to the group. A couple people joined in. We stretched our limbs, breathed deeply, and tried our best to not fall over. The hiker hobble is already strong at 10 days. Then, I read a poem written by our very own Trail Angel Mary. 

 

If my photo isn’t clear enough, you can find the poem on her website here: https://pct145trailangelmary.com/2021/01/01/still-here-a-poem-for-the-year-after-2020/

I felt so grateful to be encouraged to share my yoga practice with others. To move and breathe in community! To slow down and connect with new faces! To be in a place so full of intentionality. Today was truly a gift. 

 

On the way out I sign the log book. I notice there is a prompt. The first one so far. Usually, we are just asked to write our name and where we are from. This time, the question is posed: What have you learned so far? You will have this question again in Washington in another Trail Angel’s log book.

I think for a moment and write, “We are more alike than different.”

I feel hydrated. I feel grateful. At 4:30, I continue hiking, renewed.