A surprising end for another day of 40 miles

This morning I woke up feeling really renewed. Maybe it’s because these last two nights when I stayed in the city, I have bedded at a reasonable time. Usually, when I am in the city, I’m too late editing. So I finish only with 5 to 6 hours of sleep maximum. This time I don’t have to do that and I’m really resting. I know I need this now more than ever. This road walking saga is definitely critical for the entire mission, or at least I think so. I did not necessarily think about it when I was planning it. But as the days go by, it is clear that this is the case.

While I didn’t have the beginning earlier, I was out of the room around 7:30 am perhaps only after that. So, when I walked around the city and grabbed a cup of coffee, I was closer to 8 am but today I am only trying to go to about 35–36 miles. That will break the mileage for the next two days. Tomorrow I will enter West Yellowstone. Where I stay the night and I have to get a box and change some equipment. So, while I get so far today, I’m preparing well for that.

Crossing this mass river along a bridge this morning.

The walk on the edge of the city was really very pleasant. Ennis is a very pretty city and the city center was particularly adorable. Then I went through some parks and crossed a bridge that crossed a great river. That was also very lovely. I went for some more businesses while leaving the city slowly. And then, after a while, they were only fields and farmland as far as I could see. And this would keep up to date with the majority of the whole day.

A really nice way to start the day!

As with most of the path I do, usually towards the end, I start burn a little. This reminds me a little of the road walk along the 233 highway I think in Florida. I think that is the name of the road. Punisher and I walk on that road probably for almost 200 miles. And unlike this road walk, that had no shoulder and was a busiest road. So, after doing so, literally for three or four days, you can imagine that we overcome it. I’m not completely completely through the road walking this time. But he has lost part of his brightness.

I think maybe if I had not been so hot recently, then it might not be so bad. But it has been quite hot and there has not been much water. Although in the end I know that this alternative was the best option I could do. I have zero doubts or regrets about the way this will allow me to safely complete the CDT before winter. If there were any other way, I could do it. But this is not how things developed.

I went through this store, but unfortunately I was closed.

During the following hours, I just tried to do some work while I still had service. Just looking at the map, I am potentially anticipating the service. It seems that I will pass many forest lands and national camps. You never know what like that will be like. Although that is very good for me. And it makes it much more likely that I can find a place to camp at night. I didn’t see any accommodation or anything within the reach of me. So I think I will probably end up camping in some national forest lands or something. We will see.

I forgot how well these were!

During the following hours, I simply turned between doing the job and listening to music. Sometimes I fried too much and I don’t want to do more work. Usually, I try to encourage me to do an hour or so, and then take a break. That is what I was doing for a long time. And at one point a car passed and stopped. Honestly, I don’t think I had anyone stop or mark me all day. It is curious that sometimes anyone really cares what you are doing. They don’t mind asking if you’re fine or something. But I am an adult adult, so I guess I would probably leave me too.

It definitely ended up being a quite boring afternoon along the way.

This boy was very nice, although he had a super cute puppy with them. He headed to camping and offered me water. Moreover, I was curious about what I was doing. So I enjoyed the water and talked to him for a moment. In addition, I came to caress his dog, which was so nice and very friendly.

No one else would stop for the rest of the day after that. But it seemed that I was going to get into some businesses in the future. When I started looking at my map later in the day, I noticed some icons that had not really appeared on Google Maps. I would seek to see if there was any convenience store or things along my route. But I couldn’t find anything. Now that I was looking again, I saw multiple places for recreational vehicles and cabins that had restaurants. Which reminds me of the type of things I saw on the International Sender of the Apalaches. And we would often see them on our maps.

Horses posing for a photo.

Those are always the best surprise when you plan to camp to spend the night. Suddenly, you see an old street sign that says «Motel and Restaurant at 6 miles ahead». And you think there is no way that this is really open. He didn’t even appear on my Google maps! Then, here, we walk along the way and find a completely operational restaurant and motel. Once I started looking for today in this area, I realized that it was actually a very similar situation. There were tons of cabins and things right next to the road.

There was a place that would have done for a day of 34 miles. And there was another place that would have been closer to 39 miles for the day. But I really didn’t want to reduce mileage. While at the same time, I was not sure if I could register in the other place so late at night. When I did my calculations, I realized that I would probably not reach 9 pm. Simply based on what time I left the room this morning and everything.

All this way walking will definitely be pleasant and tan, eventually.

At this time of the day, it was approximately 32 or 33 miles. And it would be seven other miles to get to this cabin, a park of houses and a bar. So I decided to call only to see what the deal was. They said they had cabins available to spend the night and that they did not seem too worried about being filled. I told them that I might not be there until 9 pm, and the lady didn’t seem too worried about that either. Apparently, the restaurant was open until 9 pm and she said she could get food if she arrived on time. What is the only incentive I needed to start walking a little faster.

Sometimes towards the end of the day, when I am really willing to pass the miles, the opposite happens. But this time it somehow was perfectly. I simply put some music and really tried to concentrate on moving. I felt good and my mind went to a great place. And somehow the time you just passed. That is exactly what I needed to finish my day. Honestly, before realizing, I looked at my map and I was just one mile away. He was on his way to arriving at 8:40 pm, who felt as the perfect amount of time to ask for food from the restaurant without being a total idiot.

Once again, I continued walking at night. I’m not completely sure where I could end to spend the night.

The woman she had talked about on the phone told me that she would also be in the bar. So I went directly there. There were a handful of people there, and I could see them through the windows. But a big surprise was waiting for me when I opened that door. I entered and the host looked at me with very open eyes and exclaimed aloud «Peg leg?». I didn’t expect that at all. It turns out that this was Julia, who really contacted me on Instagram before.

He sent me a message a couple of days ago, saying that he lives in the West Yellowstone area. I went back to her, but I wasn’t sure if I would necessarily need something. Due to the fact that I am entering and leaving the city, I do not need walks or any help with anything. But I thought it would be great to see her when I arrived in the city. She didn’t tell me where she worked or anything like that. I stopped at the bar where he worked tonight after the end of a day of 38.5 miles. The universe is wild.

Julia! The most absolute sweet human with whom I ran by by chance tonight! Even though we had been in contact in recent days.

She and I talked to us for a while, and asked for some food to eat. The beautiful Lady Rachel she had spoken on the phone was also there at the bar. Along with some hiking guides living in the area. After ordering, I sat at the bar with everyone and told some stories. That was such an exciting and surprising way to end the day. Obviously I hoped to come here and probably just talk to anyone and simply go to a cabin at night. Maybe make the food if I was lucky. So, having such a warm social experience was really pleasant. Also walking somewhere and being treated as a friend or family member for a stranger was incredible. He honestly felt like running into an old friend. Because I was so surprised to see me when I entered. I hadn’t told me that I worked there and that I definitely did not expect it to enter!

It was very nice to end the day dating new friends.

I spent a while at the bar until they started closing. Then everyone paid and I settled for food and cabin. But the lady who rented me for the cabin gave me a ridiculously good price. Anyone would have stopped and stayed there if it had been so cheap! Being able to rest well comfortable along the road walk seems quite valuable.

Then Rachel really led me down and to the cabin to save me a short walk. I said goodbye to Julia, whom I could really see you tomorrow or the next day. She lives in this area and is anxious to hang out and support if she can. Actually, he walked along the trail of the Apalaches last year and has been helping CDT hikers this year every time he can. She said she has received as five or six hikers this year, which is great. I also said goodbye to some of the hiking guides I had spoken with.

I can’t believe that my day has ended in this little apartment.

When I got to the cabin, I was surprised by the accommodation. It was basically a study study. There is a kitchen, table, bed and bathroom and shower, of course. Rachel had connected one of those false chimneys in the room, so she was really pleasant and roasted. Actually, it is surprisingly cold tonight and is supposed to be in the 40s tomorrow morning.

On a night when he originally planned tents somewhere next to the road, all this arrangement was incredible. Once I entered, I connected some of my things in charge. Then I took a very nice shower and got into bed quickly. I had some things I wanted to do on my phone, but nothing too much. Then I left my phone on in an attempt to continue loading everything to the cloud. I have been in the process of doing this for days. It is finally almost ready. I was awake for a while doing a job, but I finally called at night. And it was not really crazy late!

If you enjoy this blog and you would like to support my walk by buying a soda or a refrigerium on the road, there is a «advice button» below! It is linked directly to my venmo. All support is incredibly appreciated!