The Great Pinhoti Regatta (ECT Day 75)

“It is hard to make that boat go as fast as you want to. The enemy, of course, is resistance of the water, as you have to displace the amount of water equal to the weight of men and equipment, but that very water is what supports you and that very enemy is your friend. So is life: the very problems you must overcome also support you and make you stronger in overcoming them.” 

– George Pocock in The “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown 

• Hiked Today: 22 miles
  • Cheaha St. Park Alt. (2.0 miles)
  • Pinhoti Trail (88.9 – 108.9)
• Total Hiked: 1,620.6 miles
• Total Paddled: 99.5 miles

Weather: 55-67°F, mostly sunny, breezy, gusty at times 

Elevation: 712 – 2,407 (high point off trail) feet

Cheaha St. Park Store to Abandoned Rd. Spot.

Sometimes when getting back on trail after being in “town,” I feel sluggish. The pack’s turned back into Hulk size and there’s a good chance my overconsumption of dense town food is still processing. Today though, my legs seemed to have appreciated the rest they’d been given and were kicking! My pack was still heavy, but I was motivated and eager to move forward up the trail. Two strong cups of coffee might have played into all this too though.

I was first up and got the coffee machine dripping straight away. Maui and Leo weren’t long to wake after me and they started finalizing their packing. They’d arranged a ride with our host and shuttle driver to get going early. And so, around 7:30 am, they were off heading back to where they got picked up from to keep trekking north on their Pinhoti adventure. I got another hour to hang and clean up the place and then got my own shuttle along with Tyler and Guy who had gotten picked up in town.

8 Acorns is more than just a hostel. It’s a nonprofit that is ” focused on providing accessible camping and outdoor recreation for families of disabled Veterans and others with disabilities.”  It’s really an amazing mission. They have access to hundreds of acres of forest land, which is perfect for getting folks outside. I was happy to have stumbled upon them and been able to support them in my small way.  

On the Trail Again 

After checking in at the State Park, I got hiking at quarter after nine. It was good I stopped inside because, A) it turns out there’s a small fee, and B) there was a downed power line blocking my path to Pulpit Rock where I had hoped to visit. Looking at a map with staff, together we planned a route that would allow me to get to a few viewing spots and the then back down to the Pinhoti.

First on the State Park to-do list was the highest point in Alabama!

Next up… Bald Rock!

On the way out to the viewpoint there was a large group that set out on the accessible boardwalk ahead of me and I got to chatting with them. They had all gathered here from across the country for a family reunion and were in jolly spirits despite their rooms in the lodge flooding overnight! Sheesh. This whole area has history with much of the buildings being built originally by the Civilian Conservation Corps, so I guess this happens? I was amazed at their positive attitude and felt I might not have been so chipper.

Once back on the Pinhoti, it was in and out going along the bigger mountain side. Each time the trail had me going in, it was into a ravine that had been carved out by a stream. The water was cascading down with some more force today after the heavy rains last night.

This repetitive pattern was nice at first, but I was happy one things started to become a little more irregular later on in the day. Lots and lots of streams all throughout though!

Where there be water, there be…

I was kind of cruising today, few breaks, just going. Even my lunch was pretty quick.

The exception to my cruisyness was a pause late afternoon for the First Annual Pinhoti Regatta. What’s this about, you ask? Well, most of you don’t know it, but my travel companion, Sumi, is a expert oarsman. He has won many a championship race on the water. Now, back when we were walking the Alabama roads, we got to chatting with this purple rubber duck that was pushing Sumi’s buttons saying he’d “straight up smoke him in a race.” Very bold, right?

So that’s the lead up. You see, this audacious duck hopped in the pack with us and now, after days of squabbling and back and forth trash talk, today is race day! So here we go…

Sumi took the early lead, but then pulled over and stalled out. What was this? Strategy or calamity?

Turns out, he knew what he was doing all along. The overeager young duck flew ahead only to get caught in an inescapable eddy! And after seeing his fallacy, Sumi just moseyed on ahead, waving as he passed the circling waterfowl, finishing in a casual burst of speed and glory.

Very exciting stuff. The adrenaline pushed me forward through the later hours of the day. I passed over the semi-truck filled Interstate 20, hiked another mile, then set up at a random flat spot I found. It appeared to be an old road that had been overgrown by vegetation.

Album of the Day:

“When You’re Ready” (2019) by Molly Tuttle 

Started Audiobook:

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (2020) by Suzanne Collins