I’m having the best time of my life here. Today I have been here for 2 whole weeks. It feels like it’s been maybe a weekend. At the same time, this is starting to feel like… life. Like I’m right where I’m supposed to be. And I have been very lucky with this complicated situation. I love these people. It’s me, Laura, Forrest, GoldBond, Miranda and All-In.
It’s sad that it may be one of the last nights we’ll be together. Well, it’s not like we’re all together right now. There is still an unknown amount of time until the All-In. Just as she is. Every day. And honestly, I’m not sure if it’s because he’s struggling or just because he loves every day he spends here.
Tomorrow we will all head to the NOC. I’ve heard rumors about pizza. And we stayed on “the bus” since Rambling Roots was full. Gold Bond and Cowboy have a place at the shelter. Then, the next day they get a zero. Forrest, Laura and I are doing a slack-pack. So, we’ll be a day ahead for a while. But hopefully not for long.
Life in the camp.
Right now, Laura, Gold Bond, and Cowboy are watching a game show on a unique little phone screen. They are laughing out loud. I love seeing them.
And wow! All inclusive has just arrived. 18:26. Spent at least an hour on the last mile. Although it is something impressive. And now Forrest offers her his place in the middle of the shelter so she doesn’t have to sleep against the wall. I do think they are the parts of the shelter where the mice live. Quite a sacrifice then. Maybe he’s too nice for his own good. It’s definitely good.
Being here for the last two weeks and only making one zero, I feel very good. I think I’m already getting in better shape. In the afternoons, when I reach the fields, I am not yet exhausted. Definitely tired, but not exhausted. And I just finished my second consecutive 11-mile (17.5 km) day. Tomorrow we will ride 8.5 miles to the NOC. But we are starting very early, so this half day is practically zero.
2 hours later…
Tonight I was almost mauled by a wild animal. I was walking in the dark towards the Wesser toilet, minding my own business, ready to pee for the night. And there it was, right in front of me. When we made eye contact, I saw the pure evil in his black eyes and then, no more than a split second later, he began to attack me at full speed. I gave a loud scream, turned around and ran out of the private entrance I was in before. My pulse quickened.
«Are you OK?»
It was Gold Bond shouting from his comfortable, safe bed next to the wall of the shelter.
“Yes,” I shouted as I caught my breath. «A mouse just attacked me in the toilet.»
«That?»
«Yes! That was a totally overreaction!»
«Yes, but are you okay?»
«I am. Although I might have overreacted a little too.»
The whole shelter (for example, my entire tram) was laughing at me. My cheeks turned red and I went to hide in my hammock. I’m going to sleep now. This was enough drama for one day. But overall, it was really good.
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