Days 4 and 5 in sections 5 and 4 …… Gratitude!

Chasing King David and more reflexes on days 4 and 5 of my walk.

When the day began, I found myself in Kenosha Pass, deciding with another hiker (King David, name of the path) of North Carolina. We had met on the 2 that we had been playing at the line, where I was in front and I was always raising the back.
David was 51 years old … A minister was always in motion. Try the best I could, reaching it became a task that I really expected.
We had talked about reversing sections 4 and 5 and we decided to try it. But he was one of the first elevators, and I didn’t.
We stayed together at the two bridge hostel in Bailey. A good place. Very Pacific Hostel, with the sound of the river in the backyard that lulls us to sleep … until 12 pm, when they were awakened by 2 new guests, who came out of what they had explained that it was a broken game of tweezers in their truck. They were not hikers, rather travelers. It was late. They could not enter with their codes, so they walked from the back and entered the courtyard. I would like to say that they showed class and were as quiet as the mice of the church, but that would be a lie. They proceeded to turn on the lights in the kitchen area and soon the room was wrapped in the smells of sausages cooking on the stove. Well, life continues.

The next morning, David got up 2 hours before me and was in his transport service at 6:45 am while entering Bailey for breakfast.

My transport left me in Kenosha at 8:30. Then the persecution was on! I didn’t tell David that I would persecute him by the way.
The best of my reasons for the opposite walk was to meet and talk to other hikers who went crazy. Listen to your stories. Not yesterday’s stories on his walks, but WHO’s real stories, what, where, when and how, but especially why they are there.
As I had taken a zero in Bailey, some of the hikers with whom he had walked were surprised to see me along the way, the other way around.
Then I began to know those who were in the traditional way.
The first day went to me and after 17 miles, I found 2 miles in section 4, arriving at the camp. David was, already installed in his store. I had been there for 2 hours when I arrived. But he had succeeded.

The whole day was incredible. First walking through the elevation, in the wide open. I could see for miles, miles and miles. I had a smile all the time on my face and I was dizzy with the entire path. I stopped and talked to so many hikers. At approximately 1 pm, there was magic of trails and stopped to get into peanuts m and m, fries and hummus. He really helped climb to the camp after that.

The night was peaceful. For the first time I had flat land to put my tent.
At first, the insects were out, but as the sun went down, they decreased. It was the coldest night so far on my walk and I loved it.

In the morning, King David was aware of the sun, he left with the wind. He establishes a good rhythm. This was going to be close for both of them and I was sure to see him in the hostel later that night.
Going opposite to section 4 was a good decision … especially when my goal was to talk to other hikers.

I read an article by a famous sports reporter, who once was asked how he received so many interesting Athletics. Their response was «always interviewing them while climbing the tunnel. Whether they had a great or bad day in the field, that journey through the tunnel to the locker room is long, they are in their uniforms, tacos and everything.
Indeed, it was the same for each and every one of the hikers with whom I stopped to speak on my way down. So many stories.
In my opinion, there is nothing better than listening to these stories …

One particularly caught me personally.
I had been approaching a hiker on his way, probably 4 miles inside, uphill, of course. It appeared on my age (I have 67 … enters for 70!) And we had to speak. He had asked him if he was doing the walk and said he was testing a new team. She asked me if I was through walks and told her yes, Durango and she rebuked «you go the wrong way.»
It turns out that the CT had completed a couple of years before, after having survived cancer. Not only that, but he had lost the ability to walk after 300 miles (due to foot neuropathy) and had to finish his walk. I was determined to complete it and did it after having to wait a couple of years.
I asked him how he had been, being so close to finishing and having to return.

She told me that when she decided to finish, her whole family stayed in Durango in an Airbandb and met her on the road while completing her walk and it was a very happy moment. His family, celebrating his success. The things I had to overcome. Imagine to overcome cancer. Walk 300 miles and be forced to stop.
So do it! I am sure that his whole family is amazed in terms of their skills.
That is why I am not surprised that I am testing a new team.
Great for you gratituta! (Another hiker gave him his path because he is always grateful!)
I think of that conversation often now.

On day 5 he ended with me in Bailey. I went to 2 Dans, I obtained a large pizza and 2 beers and shared them with another hiker (legs) in the two bridge river.

Very excited to go to Kenosha Pass to continue my way …

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