meeting Kermie

Day 66 ~ 1056.9 - 1079

It's funny, a few days ago Papa Bear mentioned that maybe with all of these upcoming road crossings, there'd be some trail magic.  Well between the second hand trail magic yesterday and the happenings today, I'd say he was right on!

It was nearing lunchtime when we passed a gentleman on a horse who told us about some trail angels up ahead.  We weren't familar with the location he'd named, and didn't ask.  We were getting hungry, and our minds filled with the endless possibilities that lie ahead.  Finally, we stopped to figure out that the trail angels were a few miles ahead.  We hiked fast, until we arrived at a trailhead parking lot, where sat a pristine 1978 VW bus in green..."Kermie".  What a fine sight!

Accompanying Kermie were Kermit and Jeannie-Bug.  We were served lots of coffee, bananas, pastries,  and coversation.  I rinsed my dirt-caked legs with their solar shower.  We sat in chairs in the shade for a long while until it was time to get back to the trail.  How amazing that perfect strangers can reach out to us dirty, stinky, unemployed hikers and do something so kind.  It makes my heart happy.

second hand trail magic

Day 65 ~ 1035.4 - 1056.9

The terrain is the most smooth we've seen in awhile, and we were actually able to put in some decent (20+) miles today, woohoo!  It has been so frustrating to hike as hard as we can, and not be able to achieve the mileage that we have desired. 

All morning, we leapfrogged with two thru-hikers we'd never met (we'd pass them, then they'd pass us, and so on).  We talked to them everytime, they were really friendly.  Their packs were tiny and they seemed to be doing big miles; after they passed us for what we thought would be the last time, we figured we may never see them again.

Everytime we cross a road, especially on a weekend, I think there's always a hope deep down that maybe, just maybe, there will be some trail magic there.  I feel guilty for thinking that way, but when you're using up everything you consume, your body cries "more, more, more"; we are total scavengers!

We arrived at the road to find no signs of trail magic: no coolers, no people, nothing.  We didn't even see a parking lot, which was strange because we had seen several day hikers.  We took a snack break, and saw the two guys we'd played leapfrog with walking down the road.  They had found the parking lot, and gotten some trail magic.  They had apple cinnamon cake and fresh cherries and honeydew melon...AND THEY SHARED!  I mentioned that we're scavengers, and I think that goes for all long distance hikers.  These starving, nearly emaciated young guys voluntarily gave us some of their goodies.  It was so kind, and some of the best cake and fruit I've had, knowing what a sacrifice it was for them to give it up.  Now we really probably will never see the guys again, but we'll always remember the second hand trail magic.