TEXTS AND PHOTOS FROM THE TRAIL!

Not much communication from Dick except now and then his texts come through. (I keep pestering him to text me more info for the blog and more people photos). The following is some of what I've received from him: (Photos may not be in order.)

1st day out of Dunsmuir it was very hot. I climbed for about 17 miles and I was just whupped! Lack of sleep and heat convinced me to stop early. Ran into a young Canadian girl from New Brunswick. She said she was ahead of her group and wondered if she could camp with me. She had never camped alone so far on the trail.  I told her I hated to be anti-social but after we set up camp I crawled in my tent and went right to sleep. I was exhausted. I get up in the morning at 4:15 and hike to beat the heat, so I’m sure I’m days ahead of her by now. The next day I met School Bus. He lives in a school bus turned RV with his wife and 5 kids when he’s not on the trail. He grew up in the Yukon. A really nice kid. Everybody's a nice KID out here. I'm the only old fart. 

The trail is really burnt in so many areas, but still very beautiful. It's hot with lots of elevation to deal with. I’m looking forward to Oregon. It’s supposed to be a little more flat. 

July 24 7:18 a.m. - Now I’m in Seiad Valley, California, waiting for my eggs and bacon. I took a bath in the river last night so I wouldn’t smell like a homeless person. The last 12 miles Into town was steep downhill, very bushy and lots of rattlesnakes. The climb out is 8 to 10 miles of Southern exposure with few trees. I'm waiting til late afternoon to leave when it cools down a bit. But I've been able to shower, do laundry, eat twice, get my 1st resupply box at the Post Office, clean my gear, and rest.

I will be here awhile. I am the only one at the campground but I saw a lot of hikers at the cafe. They look hot and miserable with the huge climb out of here to look forward to. One girl told Charlie (the owner who is quite the character) she wouldn't stay here because one of the RVs in his park was flying a Confederate flag. I told him I was a little pissed there was no Irish flag but at least there’s air conditioning and hot showers.

It sure pays to be friendly. When I passed a couple on the trail, I said, “Beautiful day. Sun’s shining, birds are singing, flowers are growing”. That put a smile on their faces and we started talking. When I mentioned you were staying in Chimicum, WA they mentioned they have friends who live there. Can you believe it was our new friends the Wellers? I could have just passed them and never made the connection. 

So far no aches and pains. I'm in better shape than many of these young people with their blisters and assorted issues from long mile days. I sure love my Altra Lone Peaks! Feels like I’m hiking in slippers and my umbrella is a lifesaver in this sun and heat.

I’m sleeping like a baby at night. Sometimes too good. Woke up one morning and found a packrat chewed my shoelace and pack strap. Little bastard.

July 26 - Breakfast in the morning, 5 miles ahead!!

July 27 8 a.m. - At Calahan’s for breakfast. Waitress just said I could have all the pancakes I can physically consume. Filled one leg so far.

At Mile 1741 - Lots of thick smoke. Fire is north of Ashland,OR.  I sure hope I run out of it in a couple days. It's windy, so maybe it will blow away.

So far water is scarce in Oregon - who would have thought!

July 28 - 1:13 p.m. - Sitting next to aqueduct soaking clothes and feet. Having a right foot issue I never had before. Maybe a shin splint. Slowing me a bit. I already have 18 miles in today. I cold-soaked it and that helped a lot. I will doctor it more when I reach Crater Lake. Remember - "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." 
I'm thinking of going to Fish Lake Resort. Free camping for PCT hikers, showers, laundry, FOOD!!

(GAILA) All is well with me. I'm loving my time here in the Pacific Northwest. A beautiful place to be. Weather is perfect. Enjoying friends and everyone here at the RV park is so friendly and helpful. Maggie came to visit once already and we had a wonderful time together.

Blossom Point, one of my favorite spots in this RV park.
So many flowers and birds.

Visited the Marine Science Center with Maggie.

An amazing place. Loved the Octopus most of all.

Kayaking with friends that I met in 2017 at another SKP campground.
They contacted me when they received my blog to say they were in nearby Port Ludlow.

Everytime I take the ferry it's been clear enough to see
the beautiful mountains. Mt. Rainer is amazing.

All is well. 

BACK ON THE TRAIL AGAIN

My home for the next two months on the Olympic Peninsula, WA.

Not as nice or private as our property in Michigan, but so much quieter!

We left Michigan late June and headed for Washington. I will be living here while Dick is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. He has 1150 miles to go to reach Canada. I wanted to be out west while he hiked and chose this beautiful area. Plus, Maggie lives only a couple hours away. 

This is BOO's favorite spot as we travel.

Leaving Michigan's lower peninsula across the Mackinaw Bridge.

Stopped for a rest at Seney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

We enjoyed a short visit with the Emericks when we passed through the Upper Peninsula.

     We made several stops on our three week trip from Michigan to Washington, including Glacier National Park. Dick wanted to hike in the park, not only because it’s his favorite place in North America but to hike some mountain trails to help get ready for his long hike. While at Glacier we visited a friend who is a backcountry ranger at the Many Glacier area. They were turning visitors away at the Many Glacier entrance due to too many people and vehicles and not enough parking. Everyone has put this park on their list of places to see before all the glaciers are gone. So now it is dealing with the masses and growing pains. Fortunately, just saying his name allowed us in. 

Ed Bouffard swearing in new park rangers

There were lots of wildflowers in June and we loved all the Bear grass.

My favorite spot in Glacier NP - overlooking Pray Lake Two Medicine.

The drive to Many Glacier along the Swiftcurrent River.

We also stopped to visit friends in Sandpoint, Idaho for an overnight. We met them in Glacier NP several years ago when we offered to watch their dog so they could go on a long day hike. A great connection and we've stayed in contact through the years.

Dinner at Bottle Bay with Nancy and Dick. 

Nice campground and great hospitality. Thanks 💗

     I am slowly meeting people in my temporary home. My 90 yr old neighbor loves to play Cribbage, and guess what, her name is Evelyn. (For those of you who don’t know, I play Cribbage at home with my 93 yr old friend Evelyn.) Plus, I’ve made other connections in Port Townsend through a friend in Michigan and my sister in California. It's a small world. 

     I almost put a wrench in Dick’s plans. Shopping at Safeway a few days before he left, I slipped on some water and landed hard. Fortunately, I didn’t break anything which could have easily happened. A store worker saw the whole accident and insisted I report it in case I have future problems. So far I just have some aches and bruises that are SLOWLY getting better.

It's a 40 minute ferry ride to visit Maggie.

A visit with Maggie and Tom before hitting the trail.

     We visited Maggie and Tom in Seattle the night before Dick left on his trip, then Tom delivered him to King Station, downtown Seattle, to catch the train south to Dunsmuir, CA where he began his hike.  It was nearly a 15 hour train ride, arriving just past midnight. Then a 2 mile walk (2 miles is nothing, it’s walking in the dark that concerned me) to the town where he got a room for a few hours and a hearty breakfast (enough for two) before heading for the trail (7/18). Dunsmuir is where he left off last summer and he hopes to reach Canada by mid-September. The big concern is fire. So far Dick has made contact through his satellite communicator that he is ok. He sends me a message morning, noon and night through the communicator and it gives me a topo map with coordinates so I can zoom in and see exactly where he is. 

     

     When he gets a connection he will also be sending me updates and photos of his hike. I will keep you posted.......

BOO loves doing puzzles but is not a big help.

BOO helping me write this blog

View of the Kootenai River from bridge in photo below

A stop on the way to Idaho near Troy, Mt

Diablo Lake in the North Cascades NP

Added a few extra photos