August 23, 2018
Cove Point Loop Ridge to West Kennedy Creek
Superior Hiking Trail Thru-Hike: Day 9
Let's try something new:
Good morning sunshine!!
Ok I drew heart eyes and then crossed them out because they look weird, but the point is, normally I give my Good Morning away to the first person who I see or who texts me. But what if I gave it to ME! Good morning sunshine! With all the love I have from a good night's rest. GOOD MORNING!!!
The valley is green and beautiful and lush. Verdant would be a good word here. My impulse is to call Alex, right away. I picture what he might be doing (driving to Wyoming already for his own backpacking trip, I'd guess?). But let me acknowledge that impluse and instead of acting on it, acknowledge the immediate details around me.
My yellow coffee has a lot of froth on top, it's still too hot to drink without burning my tongue a little bit. I have my day snacks in 6x4 bags to fit in my hip belt pockets. The wind is blowing enough to cancel out the microphone of my headphones for the person on the listening end. I'm surrounded by bags of things: three are orange, three green-blue. No purple. I have string in three of my toes, the string is purple-maroon and only one of the three toes actually hurts.
There are a few small sticks on my tarp/poncho, and rocks the size of basketballs keeping it grounded against the wind. My nose is stuffed and I have to sniffle every 30 seconds to keep it from running.
Something in the tree nearby is making the noise of a squeaky wheel that squeaks once every revolution. I had a dream that my immedaite family took Donald Trump to Thanksgiving dinner with us in a community restaurant. It's cold enough that I'm wearing both my fleece and down coat. I slept in my flaccid tent last night so the screen could go over my face and protect me from skeeters.
Cove Point
Quick resupply at Cove Point, not much to report except a long downhill to get there and a long uphill to get back to trail. Probably wouldn't resupply there again if I didn't need to. And as a function of making so many more miles than I had expected, I didn't need to. But I did anyway. And now I have too much crap.
Cove Point Lodge is beautiful and it was so nice getting to see the lake, but being on trail is where I belong, not holed up in a hotel room.
Friends!
I’ve been getting super lonely out on this trail. There has, so far, not been a single other thru hiker, or a single person I’ve gotten to see multiple times and start developing a friendship with. I did get a moment of respite from my loneliness today when I met a few kids my age from St. Paul. We talked about the city, about hiking, and mundane things. Having a simple conversation with another human for 20 minutes was everything to me today.
Wolf Ridge Camp
Made it past Tettegouche State Park, camped with a family, two girls my age, and another couple. Rain tomorrow. 22 mile day with 324 floors climbed (holy shit). Saw a fox or coyote right by Wolf Ridge. Sat by the lake/swamp near the campsite and watched the sun set before heading to the tent and to bed.