(Mile 2334 to 2360 = 26 miles; 2360 to 2386 = 26
miles)
 |
| Sunrise over Adams. |
Those are three words I have learned to say on
this trip. Three difficult words. But, when you are homeless,
hungry, and/or in need (as we are nearly 24 hours a day), you learn to say,
"Yes. Thank you." Would you like a sandwich?
"Yes. Thank you." Would you like to stay in our spare
room? "Yes. Thank you." Would you like me to pick
up two braces and bring them to you on trail? "Yes. Thank
you."
 |
| Rainier, a solid presence on the trail. |
I am nestled in my sleeping bag on an abandoned
road with Gumby and Maddog and have a brace on each foot and a tape job
underneath. Chris (of Chris, Charles, and Gauge--the couple and dog who
trail angeled us on Mt. Hood) drove all the way into middle-of-nowhere
Washington to bring me a variety of plantar fasciitis supplies. She
*made* me Strassburg socks, bought a brace for each foot (finding them for $30
LESS at Freddies), bought two rolls of athletic tape and brought instructions
on how to tape for daily hiking, and Tylenol. If that were not enough,
she made all three of us hot lunch and stocked us up on snacks. Did I
mention new water bottles and our respective favorite pops?
Unbelievable. And this is from a woman I have met once before. When
she trail angeled us on Hood. Thank you, Chris and co. You have me
keepin' on. Brian and Mom, Guy and Jimmy, thanks for helping Chris help
me.
 |
| Me with my new homemade Strassburg socks. Thank you, Chris, Charles, and Gauge! |
But many of you can believe this, can't
you. Because I have had an outpouring of support from all corners.
Not everyone can zip up to Washington, but a number of you have offered and
even more have given advice and moral support. You cannot know how much
all of this helps. Finishing is now about both physical and mental
strength and endurance. I will quit if the physical pain becomes too much
and I know the costs are no longer worth the reward of finishing. I am not
afraid to stop. But I do not want to if I do not have to. I have
not reached stop yet. And, with my new tape and brace/sock therapy, I am
hoping I might not have to.
 |
| We didn't find these, but we heard about them! Thanks, Chris and the Cascadia Women's hiking group! |
Thank you, everyone, for cheering me on. I
can feel it all the way up here in mid-Washington. Just two more weeks to
go. I am going to give it all I have... So I had better rest
up! Night!
