Sprout Day 69 (Saturday, June 4th, 2016)

Today was a good day in Connecticut. The trails were tough but nice. We met a couple of ridgerunners and saw a group of people volunteering to do trail maintenance. We also saw a group of people doing some sort of race where they run through the mountains and go to different locations that are marked by a GPS. It was crazy how fast they were moving. A couple of them had team USA uniforms on, maybe they were trying out for the summer olympics? There was also a group of people canoeing down the river. We saw them at a shallow point where they were getting stuck.

Bubbles, Mountain Man, Whiskers, and Karma getting ready to take off today

Mountain Man and Karma decided to get off the trail tomorrow. They are walking an eighth of a mile down the trail and then walking a seventh of a mile to a motel down the road. We are sad they are leaving but wish them the best of luck for the rest of their time in America! I know we will see them again before they leave but we wish it was everyday like it had been!

View from the trail today

It has been hot and humid the past few days and it's going to rain all day tomorrow. It's supposed to start raining at midnight and keep raining all day. I hope we wake up early with a break in the rain so we can pack all our stuff up dry.

We went down a section today called the ledges. It was a steep decline, it basically felt like we were rock climbing down. I had fun maneuvering my way down the mountainside. I'm glad we walked this part today instead of yesterday. It was way too slippery yesterday to try to make it down!

Bubbles getting ready to climb up

Bubbles new fried, Linus, a ridgerunner (trail maintainer)

Bubbles on a cliff!

Going up!!!

Bubbles coming down now!

Bubbles traversing the terrain

You got this Bubbles!!

Kids canoeing

Mountain Man hanging a bear bag

Day: 69
Miles hiked: 7.3
Total Miles hiked on the trail: 612.4
Bears: 0
Bluegill: 2
Butterflies: 8
Chipmunks: 3
Cows: 24
Crawfish: 1
Deer: 20
Donkeys: 2
Horses: 12
Hummingbird: 1
Inchworm: 1
Really Big Dog: 1
Mice: 2
Nest of bugs: 2
Newts: 2
Owl: 1
Rabbit: 1
Skunk: 1
Snail: 1
Snake: 2
Squirrels: 11
Toads: 3
Trout: 2
Turkeys: 4
Turtles: 107
Vultures: 6
Woodpecker: 1

Bubbles Day 69 (Saturday, June 4th, 2016)

Today we were happy to hike in weather that was brighter.  Oh happy day!!  The rain cleared and my spirits were high.  I thoroughly enjoyed my hike today.  I love the trail in Connecticut. People says it’s "flat" but it's not.  It's been challenging but glorious.

We hiked over some pretty interesting spots today.  St. John's Ledges was wonderful and I was blessed enough to hike from Caleb's Peak to St. John’s Ledges with a ridgerunner.  I may have spooked the guy a little, but I was so excited to meet a ridgerunner!  I attacked him with questions.  I've only read about them, so to meet one was beyond exhilarating for me. His name is Linus (https://happyonthetrails.wordpress.com/)  Just in case you don't know what a ridgerunner is, they hike the trails, some as volunteers, and some in paid positions.  They make sure our trails are safe and that people respect the rules and regulations.   For example, no fires in Connecticut. He said that the burnt part of trail we had just come through wasn't a controlled fire, but a fire started from a hiker.  That burnt part of the trail made it clear why fires are prohibited.  He went ahead of us, but we caught him quickly because he had stopped to clear leaves from the trail on a very steep part of the trail (St. John's ledges) wow.  What incredible people to volunteer their time to this trail we love so much.

Volunteers on the trial building and repairing stone stairs

At the bottom of the steep hill was a beautiful river walk along the Housatonic River. It was easy easy walking.  We made a pit stop at the shelter we were passing and were happy to see Karma and Mountain Man.  I sat and talked with Karma and Mountain Man and they confirmed that they were getting off trail in the morning.  I had sensed that they were going to get off soon, but I didn't think before Salisbury. (Where our food drop was and their bounce boxes). I was again devastated.  We have a strong connection and it was hard to not fight with them and try to convince them to stay on trail.  I tried to be playful and made a fortune origami out of paper with all the Fortunes saying that they should stay on trail.  It didn't work but we laughed.

Sprout on the trail

The rest of the hike to camp was hard thinking about how our dear friends were leaving the trail. I knew we would eventually split up, but I had this dream or fantasy of all of us summiting Katahdin together.  I thought maybe they would hike on faster than us or vice versa and it would be a game of catch up.  With them getting off trail I knew that this dream was no longer an option.  I’m not going to lie either, it crushed me and my heart to see their defeated looks.  I understand, if they aren't having fun, why put themselves through misery?  Also, it is selfish of me to want them to.  I will cherish our times together and never ever forget the memories.  Good and bad. They are my solemates (pun intended). I mean, Karma is a founding member of the splendid sore sole sisters after all!  They will be missed dearly. We are hoping they will get off trail and miss it and us so much they come back.  A girl can dream. :)  We hiked 283 miles with them and every mile is a mile I would repeat and relive.  They helped make our experience on the AT so much more vibrant and loving. I would be silly with Karma and tease Mountain Man like a brother.  They are our trail family and that is a love that will last a lifetime.  They will still be hiking the AT, because we hold them near and dear in our hearts. We will have our last cowboy coffee together tomorrow and I am going to try to hold it together and not bawl like a baby.  They will be missed dearly on the trail. Northern we shall go, just missing some of our Besties.

Beautiful day today!

Time to filter water

Trail today