Journal Entries

Day 7 good morning sunshine! Packing up camp at Bromley Shelter.

In my food bag leaving Manchester Center. A whack of turmeric pills for inflammation - won’t eat these all but had to pack out the whole bottle, 5 breakfasts -oatmeal, nuts, dried fruits and powdered milk, flatbread and Nutella and cheese, my portion of 4 suppers (@toeslad has the rest), coffee and tea, 5 packets of daily snack mixes including soy nuts, chickpeas, Vermont meat sticks, pretzel crackers, fruit snacks, fruit squeezes, Luna bar. This is 5 days of trail food.

Bromley Shelter. Going to tent tonight, we have the time and no rain forecasted, but the shelter has a great cooking/gathering area. @hammerhead @toesalad

After 24 hrs+ in Manchester Center we’re back on the trail and the sun is shining for the first time on the trail.

A few new town acquisitions.

1. Camp/town shoes. Turquoise crocs with added toe loops (thanks Quiet Storm for that idea) to attach to carabiner on backpack. On the AT I had various pairs of run-down flip flops for town. I didn’t start this hike with any town/camp shoes, wasn’t sure I’d need them. But after all the mud and rain I definitely wanted easy dry lightweight shoes for town. And one of my fav. colors!

2. Compression sleeves for calf and knees. After taking this photo at the motel I bought another knee sleeve because it felt so good on my “bad” knee that my good knee was feeling “bad”. I don’t know if it’s inflammation, arthritis, both/and something els, but my knees were starting to really hurt the last 3 days before town, especially bad on day 5 coming into Manchester. I have been enjoying the hike so much but the pain in my knees was really demoralizing. Also my Achilles was killing me. Ack, makes me feel old! @toesalad did some research when we got to town (as he is so good at doing) and figured compression sleeves would help the Achilles and also probably the knees. I thought I’d only need one but bought another.

While in town I also bought a s$&tload of turmeric pills at the health food store to help with the inflammation. Arthritis is a likely culprit as my mom struggles with that also.

I’m leaving town with compression sleeves, supplements, and lots of ibuprofen.

After 5 days on the trail @karentogo @hammerhead celebrating life at our motel room in Manchester Center

Stopping for resupply feels as much like long distance hiking as the actual hiking! Mountain Goat in Manchester Center.

We made it into Manchester Center! Five successful days on the trail. Stopped at the Mountain Goat for fuel, the Rite Aid for allergy meds and compression wraps and headed to Palmer House resort for our night off-trail.

I just love mushroom colonies

Our first significant view on the trail. Prospect rock view into Manchester