Right of Passage

Hi everyone! I am currently in the library in Salisbury, CT. Yesterday I left Kent after a leisurely morning of coffee, muffins, and a good book I picked up at the bookstore there. The 17 mile hike to the shelter went by much quicker than the previous days. Rest, even just a days worth, has made a world of difference. I did not realize how much I needed a break from hiking until I took one! The days hike was relatively flat, and the air was cool and breezy. So compared to past days of 90 degree heat, that was easy. Today I've hiked the 17 miles here into Salisbury, and will only be going another 3 miles to the next shelter. Reaching into the upper twenties mileage-wise is just overzealous, and I usually don't feel well the next day.

Up until today, I have mentioned little about aches and pains (I think), and have just been saying the body is great like everything else. However, truth be told, it hasn't been so easy to hike this fast. It seems like every part of my legs and feet have had to go through some right of passage in order to be deemed 'trail ready' by my body. Yesterday pain moved between three different places; the side of my left knee, my third and fourth toes on my left foot, and the tendon that runs under the arch of my right foot. Everyday brings a new spot that hurts, and the old spots are typically a little better. My conclusion is that most of the aches will hopefully go away with shorter days, and taking it easy. No complaints today though. I'm feeling great!

The award for most confusing and poorly blazed state goes to Connecticut so far. I got lost twice on the way to Salisbury today due to what I am blaming on inadequate trail markers. A large amount of navigation through CT has been spent convincing myself that I am going the right way. There is not that much navigation needed to begin with; you're just walking next to these white marked trees! Yesterday out of Kent, the blazes where so sparse, and the signage so rare, that I completely passed a shelter without knowing it until I was 3 miles later down the trail. The blazes along the river were there every quarter mile (it seemed), instead of every 40-50 feet like I'm accustomed to. So I asked a local. She somehow convinced me I was going the right way, and not shortly after I saw a blaze. Most locals never know where the trail is, so that was a lucky deal I guess.

This computer is great! I see an insert for an SD card, so I can post some pictures. I'm going to do that, then go find a cheeseburger. Happy Fourth of July to everyone!!