Date: 2017-06-26
From: Rattlesnake Swamp Trail Junction

To: Campsite at Mile 1315.8
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: clear sky

The day of reckoning had arrived. Today I would leave the comforts of the hotel room, put on my pack, and hit the trail to see if the activities of the last four days would make me strong enough to continue hiking or would confirm that my right hip could no longer bear the load. I was relieved. It was time to know. The shuttle driver called to let me know he could come an hour earlier than planned. That was great as I had hoped to get going earlier than even that. I had the complimentary breakfast and then packed and repacked and took everything down to the lobby. I took the stairs and when I reached the bottom I turned around and climbed to the 3rd floor one more time just to see how it felt. Out to the lobby and in a few minutes I was loaded and ready to go. This shuttle driver drives like me. He's a little old man and never in a hurry, never goes over the speed limit. No matter. We'd get there. I unloaded on the remote gravel road next to the stream and footbridge, paid him, and watched him roll slowly away. I strapped on the pack and walked over to the far side where the trail continued, going up hill from the first step. I stopped and had a quiet prayer meeting, asking God to work His will today, and agreeing to be ok with whatever He decided. It was a good test. The trail was rocky from the start and had sections of large boulders, very high steps up and down, and steep sections. At first I was hyper sensitive, trying to sense everything my right foot and hip were feeling. Soon I was in the groove and hiking along slow and steady. Even without an injury the first steps under the weight of the pack are always a wake up call after time off, even one day off. Not sure I've ever had four days off before. I was very careful. I went slow. Even then I was amazed at how quickly I was standing on the cliff face where I had stopped to turn around last Wednesday. This seemed to be working. I had not stumbled or had any straining event, and I felt fine. There was no question. I was going forward! I took a selfie and sent the news to Marlene. I knew she was wondering and waiting to hear. A mile ahead stood a fire lookout tower. I got a picture but did not climb it - no unnecessary efforts today. I stopped several times to adjust the support I had wrapped on my right foot. It started to hurt shortly after I hiked past the turnaround point from the other day. It began to be a concern - the hip was handling it fine with only a few twinges but my foot just could not stop hurting. Finally after tightening and re-wrapping several different ways I had the idea to stop tightening and try loosening the wrap. That worked!! I put the wrap on very loose and even loosened the laces on that shoe. It behaved fine the rest of the day. The trail threw every kind of PA rock challenge at me. Regular rocky trail, boulder piles, and the slanted cliff face with boulder piles. I took it slow and completed 10.2 miles to a campsite with a water source. I am set up for the night, so far camping alone. I am encouraged and will try to increase both speed and distance a little tomorrow because of the distance to places to stay and the availability of water. I will continue to be careful. I thank God and the prayers of so many friends who are supporting and encouraging me in this. I am continuing on into New Jersey. Thanks to all. Goodnight Sweetheart.