Returning to Wood’s Hole – The Walk

Three years ago, I accidentally found myself as a resident of an Appalachian Trail lodge with my friend Audrey. We marveled at the hiker culture from afar with the safety of a car parked outside, but one voice stayed with me after I left. It planted a dream in me of finding my way back to Wood’s Hole without a car. I wanted to walk there.

PK knew it was a big day for me. We had talked about Wood’s Hole being in a way my “first Katahdin.” It was the reason I was here, the reason I was bitten by the hiking bug, and it etched itself as a sacred place in my mind. When I finally saw the sign, I burst into tears, as I always seem to do. PK celebrated with me while I cried with joy.

I often feel defeated as a hiker. There’s a strange amount of shame when you don’t do the miles you planned or stay in town longer than you arbitrarily «should.» At Wood’s Hole, for the first time in a long time, I finally felt proud of myself for making a three-year dream come true. I let that pride carry me to the front porch where I met up with Neville and Jaws. It seemed as if no time had passed.

We did yoga, had a gratitude circle before dinner, and my friend Audrey arrived just as it was getting dark. It was amazing to find myself sitting on that porch with the same friend after three years. I tried to imagine the girl I was before but it felt very far away. Instead, I soaked in the present. We played croquet in the front yard, painted rocks, pulled weeds and worked in the garden, wrote poems and sat in the sun. It was the perfect day zero.

When Audrey left the next night, I cried with gratitude for having a friend willing to drive so far to support me. Wood’s Hole is great at providing a sense of community, which hikers desperately crave. I knew the moment would pass, so I savored our last morning and walked out knowing I still had more dreams to fulfill.

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