Humidity

7/27/12 – 1442 miles
I walked alone today. There are still a lot of hikers trekking north but we are getting spread out. Now and then you will meet a Southbounder and exchange information on the trail ahead. But most of the time the woods are quiet and secluded. I find myself singing songs to pass the time.

The air was so humid today that it seemed even the rocks were sweating. I was careful to watch my step on the slippery surface of dirt and roots. My clothes were drenched with sweat, sometimes getting in my eyes and burning, and always attracting every insect to come and feast on my blood. Deet is useless to deter them. The aroma of a hiker is too powerful.

Tonight I am camped between Highway 19 and the MTA train station at a landscape garden center, friendly to hikers, offering a place to take showers and use of there bathroom. I arrived at 4:45 and Kleenex made it a few minutes later. We were just in time to take quick showers because they would be closing at five. Unfortunately, there was no hot water, but I managed to rinse the sweat with an icy dance for two minutes.

A nice lady who is employed at the garden center offered Kleenex and I a ride to a deli a half mile up the road so we jumped in her car and made the trip for food. The deli made a good sandwich and afterward we both had ice cream.

The trip back to camp was a short walk. It is illegal to hitchhike in NY – the State Police will ticket you – so we thought it best to walk. .5 is small compared to 20.

5 Responses to “Humidity”

  1. Donna says:

    Maybe you should eat [more] garlic. I’ve heard that deters the mosquitoes.

  2. Gma says:

    My Guideposts monthly magazine came yesterday with a story about a woman who has thru-hiked the AT three times, and wrote a book about it–Jennifer Pharr Davis, trail name Odyssa, book title “Becoming Odyssa”. One time, she covered it in 46 and one half days (averaged 47 miles a day). One time, her husband helped her, driving from point to point, carrying her back pack, doing her laundry, etc. picking her up every evening with food for the next day, and praying for and with her.

  3. Daryl says:

    If Odyssa’s husband carried her back pack and picked her up every evening, she was doing it the “easy” way.

    Dale’s doing it like a man!

  4. Gma says:

    I wouldn’t want to walk 47 mile a week instead of a day, with a pack, or in my underwear..

  5. Dick says:

    I can’t imagine walking 47 miles a day, pack or not!

    Not sure about the garlic recommendation. I can’t imagine it would make you smell any worse than you already do, but then again, I’m not a mosquito.

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