We were on an abandoned forest road, drying out gear from the overnight condensation, listening to the whisper of the wind through the trees, when I realized that I hadn’t posted anything to social media in a while.
Usually that meant that I wasn’t having fun, that I had zero desire to share the boring details of my life. But this time was different, I was hiking with a group of people, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. Each person brings their own unique qualities and perspectives, enriching our shared experience in ways I could have never imagined.
We stayed at Iron Bridge Shelter, where Longshot started a campfire, and I ate microwave Bacon for breakfast that I’d had in my backpack for well over a week. Being in a group was fun, but I wasn’t prioritizing my own stuff.
And there was a convenience store at a road crossing in 20 miles. So I ran for milk, eating peanut butter and imagining the half gallon of milk and Reese’s peanut butter cups for lunch.
In Keystone Heights, Root 66, a friend I hiked with on the Appalachian Trail had come out to visit. He gave the rest of the group a ride into town in the back of his pickup so we could stay with Panty Burner, a trail maintainer and fantastic trail angel with whom we all shared mimosas for breakfast… while also taking advantage of her outdoor throne.
I’d broken a zipper on my backpack and lost my National Park Service hat, but there were miles to do and no time to rest.
#FTthruhike #FloridaTrail