Time off trail and The Return (Post Bonus)

«He felt he was still at the dark. He had chosen his way, but he kept looking back wondering if he had read the signs badly; if he shouldn’t have taken to the other side.»

– JK Rowling («Harry Potter and the Death relics»)

Be healthy

The day I diverted on the path of the Apalaches was a Tuesday. After walking by road, doing hutop and bus I arrived at the Poughkeepsie station, where I boarded an Amtrak train bound for Indiana. The trip spent the next morning my sister picked me up. Driving to the north, we connected with my mother in Michigan and I did it «at home» (I have not had my own home since I sold mine before the PCT in 2019, so West Michigan, where I grew up and where much of my family still lives … that is home).

That same day, just when I returned, I borrowed a car and led me to the center of Grand Rapids, my to start the process of treating. It was just another blood draw, but it was necessary to align things for the events of the next day. On Thursday morning, I returned to the same building where I would spend a good part of the day receiving a blood transfusion and then an iron infusion. They also gave me Benadryl, so all the rest of the day I was stunned.

And that was all. Previously, when this has happened to me, I had to come several times, but I suppose they could administer all the good things at once. Unexpected, but appreciated.

Only two days and it was already full. Was it time to return to the road and start walking to the north then? Not quite … A, things take something to enter and make me feel better, and B, I wanted to hang a little and see Fam and friends while I returned in half.

Throughout this process, my mind returned to my CDT walk in 2022. Like now, I had retired the path, fatigued and needed the same remedies. Here is a mail I wrote about then. When reading it, it seemed curious how so many of the feelings and emotions I experienced then, this time I also felt.

I guess I should have seen all anemia, but in my defense, I checked my levels before leaving and were the highest in my verification story. Another example of how, I don’t have everything together. He never said I did haha. In fact, here is a small look, except from the start page of my WordPress of my personal non «The Trek» …

«If you are looking to read about the experience of an expert in super hike, it’s not me, baby! If, on the other hand, you want to listen to the daily routine, the mistakes made and stories of being completely amazed at the beautiful environment, that is more my style.»

Taking time out of the path

I ended up taking the rest of the week off and the whole next also, a total of 12 days «zero». During that time, I was able to visit one of my favorite places on the planet to go fishing and camping with my nephew, I earned some money working with my cousins ​​(they were in the midst of framing a giant house with a view to the powerful Grand River), and I could see and hang with many people. Among all that, I relaxed, I saw several films and devoured an ice cream bowl full of coverage almost every night. It was great!

I have been camping in this special «secret» fishing since he was a small child. Sometimes, traditional annual trips were made, but in recent years it has been sporadic with large gaps between visits. The last time I did it was in 2020, so I was ecstatic when this opportunity appeared so that my nephew and I did a small adventure!

Water is usually crystalline here and super beautiful. Always joke that is the «North Caribbean». The low of the small mouth were in abundance and we had fun despite being fried by the sun.

I did not have the energy for too many social exits, but I was happy to catch up with a good friend and visit one of the many breweries in our area. Absolutely first category.

A little misleading since we are not close to Mount Arvon. I looked for it and it would be a 7.5 hour trip to get to the upper peninsula.

Before leaving the place of my parents, I tried to organize a bag of things that I might need in advance. Much of that was my warmer clothes for cold weather. As they say at home, «winter comes!»

Returning

I had done a little round trip at the time for my return to the road. It was tempting staying longer, maybe even for another week to enjoy holidays with people. But, when I started contemplating and planning forward, a bigger pull was developed to do it again! My motivation and impulse to walk and complete the path of the Apalaches, and maybe even the ECT was returning.

Instead of using the train as I did when I left, I reserved a flight to return. The morning of my departure, my sister stopped to see me and then dad and I headed to the Ole Gerald R. Ford airport. It was a game of 9:20 am and my arrival time at 7:45 am seemed adequate. From shipping to my bag registered (my package) at Newark airport, the entire process was surprisingly without problems.

I use a cheap laundry bag to hide my package inside to fly. I have always been curious to know how other hikers do?

The next in my travel itinerary was to take the «train» of the airport to the train station, a short distance.

There, I waited about half an hour before shewing a train to the city. When I say crowded, I mean it was completely full. The only way I managed to continue was because the last second someone came out to choose to wait for the next one and slipped into his place. Somehow at the next stop, more people took place!

We were packed there solids and also hot. In the third stop, when a woman tried to climb, but another refused to move, things almost rose to the levels of physical altercation. Fortunately, they did not do so and shouted from one place to another. And somehow for when we all arrived at the last stop, the New York Penn station, the only woman had apologized and everyone laughed together.

It turns out that I timed my second visit from Manhattan on the walk with the progress of New York City. Therefore, I suppose, I was very busy on the train. It was an environment of celebration and fun. Finally, I managed to find my path from the underground surface to the surface and then to a small near park. There, sitting at a small table was my friend snickers. We had been sending text messages and we had made a scheme to align our paths once again!

With a time before the next train, we seek to visit the parade. Unfortunately, the police had barricades placed everywhere and it seemed that we would have had to walk a lot to see it. Instead, we find our way to a kind of staging area for the floats and then my return to the same table where I had originally seen it. Snickers had some very friendly sandwiches, which were delicious. We meet and then we go to Grand Central Station.

Then, we both bought tickets and got on the train to the north for Beacon, NY. After an hour or so, that is where we got off.

This train route travels to the adjacent right and parallel to the powerful Hudson River.

Little by little, I was approaching the path. First on the agenda it was to find a little stove fuel to buy. After not finding any in the hardware store, with what he was counting, Snickers managed to locate a nearby supplier that arrived. It was a small super pleasant place, like the rest of the center of Beacon.

I continued following my Big City New York guide as we walked to an open art study. It was smaller than I expected. There were some really great paintings and photographs. A small arranged stop before separating. When leaving the studio, Snickers planned to make a walk that would take him to a different train stop and finally return home. A small encounter so great. I was very grateful to strive for this to happen!

After our separation, I went in the other address to buy a soda of the service station and then «called» for an Uber. Yes, for the final stage, I decided to go with simplicity and be collected and taken directly to the place where I left the AT.

Come on!!!

I still didn’t feel any need to walk today, so I backed the short forms towards the RPH shelter. This was the same refuge in which I stayed approximately two weeks before withdrawing home. I met Doc, a type of long -section hiker, and another hiker who is doing a chanche and we all drew together at the picnic table. Later, Supernova would join.

Instead of dealing with insects and noise in the shelter, I happily configured my store. He felt good to be reunited with Donna The Durston and put everything cozy inside. He was grateful that he was not too overwhelmingly hot.

To tell the truth, I’m not sure how tomorrow will go. Walking today and climbing stairs, I could still feel tired. I obtained the laboratories reviewed after my treatment and the levels were increased, but still, I plan to take my time and feel this. I will stop it if I too!

And … I’m excited again. I know 100% that AT and I will encounter the heads again, and probably soon, but for now we are at peace with each other. Despite my doubts and second riddles in recent weeks, it feels right to be here now on the road again and it feels good that I heard my body and increased everything again. From my first trip on the PCT, I have enjoyed the unknowns that these excursions bring and this was just another example of how my trip can take a completely unexpected turn. Who knows what will happen to the rest of the way! I’m looking forward to discovering 😎

«For the love of the Pete gun, we still have a second half to play!»

– Coach Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso Season 1 Episode 4)

Thanks for joining the trip! And thanks to all who left comments and good wishes in recent weeks! !