Day 124: Feeling Good?

Miles Hiked: 31.8

Total Milage: 2145.3

Today I woke up early around 5am. My stomach was bothering me first thing in the morning and I knew we had to hike 30 miles today. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it because I was feeling so bad. Luckily after I got through the first 8 miles things started to turn around. I was also on my period. What a rough day to walk so far! I had a lot of cell service today and I was able to talk to both Luke and my mom for a long time while I was hiking. It was so great to just hear my moms voice. Whenever I have a bad day on the trail she is always the person I want to talk to. She made me feel a lot better and eventually the miles started flying by. I didn’t even realize it at first, but I ended up hiking 20 miles by 2pm which is a great pace to set myself up to end a long day of hiking at a reasonable time.

At mile 22 I took a long lunch break and made a PB and J wrap. I carried water for 20 miles today! There were no sources on the trail since the creek I passed two miles after camp. I spent almost the whole day alone and I was so glad. 12 pack was going slower today and never caught up to me until dinner time. I was so grumpy all morning and just didn’t want to talk to anyone except my mom today so it worked out. I remember being on the phone with my mom telling her that I just wanted to be alone and I didn’t want to see any people at all today. At dinner we cooked some ramen noodles on the side of a dirt road because it was our last water source for miles and there is private property on both sides of the road. While we were eating some bike packers passed us. After dinner I had 6 more miles to camp up a dirt road. I saw the bike packers ahead of me pushing their bikes so I made it a goal to see if I could catch up to them. I did and we got to chat a little bit. They have done quite a bit of long distance hiking as well. It was awesome to meet other people out doing another big adventure years after their first few. It gives me hope that I have more adventures in my future than thru hiking!

I made it to camp around 8pm. Honestly it didn’t feel like I hiked almost 32 miles today. I didn’t really start hurting until the last two miles. The rough part was the beginning of the day with my stomach pains and being super grumpy because of my period. I was so happy to finally lay down in my tent.

Happy Trails!

-Early Bird