Project Eveningland

6/8/2023 Thursday

The smoke had thickened by morning into a haze. I decided to do a backwards (southbound) 12-mile slackpack and stay at the same B&B again tonight. I’ve had enough introspection for a while. Let’s talk scenery from an unusual and varied day on the AT.

6/7/2023 Wednesday

Yesterday and the day before I felt something in me shift. The trail today was out of a dream.

6/6/2023 Tuesday

Great sleep last night. During a morning privy visit, I propped open the door so I could breathe non pit-privy-scented air.

6/5/2023 Monday

I burned my mouth on some peach oatmeal this morning. After breakfast—or before, I can’t remember—I grabbed a rare morning shower. Rev told us that the tread was indeed favorable between here and Duncannon.

6/4/2023 Sunday

The tiny window air conditioner hummed nicely last night and kept me asleep until a very reasonable hour. I heard the tiniest sound sometime after 7:30. Was that a knock?

6/3/2023 Saturday

A strong wind blew into camp at 10PM last night. All at once the trees began swaying. Like it had been scheduled.

6/2/2023 Friday

It stayed warm though the night. I woke up on the “sunny side:” with it being so warm, I don’t have to dread taking off my sweatshirt.

6/1/2023 Thursday

The kids weren’t nearly so loud in the morning! One of the adults chatted me up briefly and told me they were 8th graders. She asked where I was headed and I said, “Katahdin.”

5/31/2023 Wednesday

The thru-hikers are getting more and more spread out. I see a few in passing. To clarify, they are passing me—I’m not passing any other thru hikers. I’m still sore today but trying a new kind of stretch and doing lower mileage.

5/30/2023 Tuesday

I have a morning routine in Harpers. They know me at the bakery. After breakfast I paid my tab at the inn, packed up, and headed out. I wasn’t feeling confident about the miles ahead given the stiffness and soreness in my lucky foot.