We've had a couple of long, but good hiking days. See the last three entries to catch up.
3-28-06
Start: SR-247 (BT)
Destination: Mt. Aire Rd. (BT)
Miles: 21.6
Weather: Drizzly, cloudy
We packed up camp in the rain this morning for the first time. I always kind of wondered how to do that and keep everything dry. Well, we found out -- it's impossible. But, I think we did a darn good job considering the situation. We did as much as we could inside - packed up everything we could in our packs, put our rain covers on, and then I packed the tent up in warp-speed. It was wet, but I don't think there's a way to avoid that.
We had a very friendly kitty that lives at the Counterfeit House that really fell in love with us. It came right into our tent with us and purred like crazy. We enjoyed the company - we both miss our pets at home, so we sucked it all in. But then the thing got obsessed. Nah, it wasn't that bad, but we had to get some sleep. So we closed up the door and went down for the night. Everytime we moved it would shove a paw under the tent floor. At some point in the middle of the night we heard the cat scream a couple of times and hiss really loud. We like to believe it scared off some really big animal that was about to eat us. So we dubbed it our "guard cat." In the morning it was laying against the outside of the tent, but it was cold, so we didn't want to open the door. It started raining, and the poor kitty meow-ed a couple of times then jumped clear up onto one of the walls of the tent. The one teeny claw hole I saw I rubbed at, and it healed itself - ripstop nylon does that I guess - it feels kinda' waxy, so for teeny holes or tears that works. Poor kitty just wanted in... :)
We hiked like crazy women today again. We were wanting to make it to Russellville to pick up our mail drop package (new shoes!), but it was going to be tough to make it before the PO closed. We stopped in Bentonville at 9:30 for coffee and a snack at a little convenience store.
Shortly after we left Connie - our Richmond Dale, OH trail angel from last week - called and had new rain parkas for us that she had ordered. And she asked us where we were so she and Mike could drive them out to us! We told them we were cruising for our package, so Connie said they would drive ahead, pick up our box and meet us - how very cool is that!? So all of a sudden, they pulled up in their red minivan! Yeah!
So what a great way to cheer up a couple of hikers on a cloudy day - new rain parkas, and a milkshake! Yup! They brought us to lunch and I was able to order a chocolate milkshake. Mmm, mmm good!
The first thing we did when we got that box was try our new shoes. My toes can move inside them, now, so I'm afraid they're too big. But it's probably because I'm used to my old ones being too small. Mom needs to break hers in more - they're boots, so they're a little tougher. Hopefully we won't get any new blisters!
After lunch we re-supplied our packs and filled our water. The folks from the ADT sent us patches, pins, decals, and two handkerchiefs as a little "way to go" token - for making it over 700 miles. We were feeling pretty honored and proud with this being our first big hike. Thanks ADTS! Grandma sent more peanut butter balls, and we only have 2 left. Thanks, grandma! And thanks, dad, for sending us our list of goodies! And he sent dryer sheets. It's our 3rd night in the tent, so we have one hanging from the peak of our tent - it smells so good in here!
I would like to say a huge thank you to Connie and Mike for driving 1-1/2 hours to help us out, take us to lunch and lighten our loads with the new parkas. They fit over our backpacks with a cinch cord, there's a hood, and sleeves. They are so cool! So we sent our rain coats, pants, hats and pack covers home. These rain parkas are cool - now we want it to rain so we can try them out -- KIDDING! :)
We are happily camped in a very nice man's yard near Russellville. He even came out while we were setting up and handed us some cash to stop in town for breakfast tomorrow morning. How many times can I say thank you in one journal entry!? Now that is a sign that it's been a wonderful day!!
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