Date: 2018-07-03
From: Port Clinton 

To: Fort Franklin Road
Miles today: 24.1
Weather: few clouds

July 3rdThe last time our family came for a visit, we stayed at a campground close to where we needed to get back on the trail. By the time they went home, where we had reached on the trail was an hour drive away from the campground. This time we are staying at a campground an hour from where we need to get back on the trail and each day we will get closer to the campground as we hike. So this morning it took an hour for Mark to get us back to the trail in Port Clinton. Since we needed to reach a spot where he could pick us up again, we had two choices. We could hike 15 miles to Hawk Mountain Road, or 24.1 miles to Fort Franklin Road. We had never hiked 24 miles before, but 15 just didn¢t seem like enough. We decided to go the further distance. With the rocky terrain, my top speed was going to be about two miles per hour. We didn¢t arrive at the trail head until 8:30. I added headlamps to our small day packs and asked Mark to pick us up at 8:00pm Then we were off. The rocks don¢t seem to slow Cole down much, but I find them torturous. Still, I kept moving forward steadily. The bugs were out again. I donned my new bug net and watched them hover around my head in front of it.Ha bugs! Look who gets the last laugh!!Actually, Cole was the one who was laughing when I tried to pop a chocolate almond into my mouth without lifting up the net. He had a bug net too, but insisted that he wasn¢t going to wear it unless the bugs were really bad.At one of our meet up points I found him sitting with his net on.¢You¢ve got your net on! I need a picture!¢¢No, no, no.¢ Was his reply.¢But you look so cute!¢¢How can I look cute in a big net?¢I held up my camera in selfie mode. When he saw himself on the screen, Cole laughed and I snapped the photo.With about five miles left to go, I came across a porcupine hanging out among the rocks and chewing on leaves. I stopped to watch him until he either decided he had eaten enough or that my attention was unwanted and then he wandered off.At four miles to our destination, Cole headed on ahead to the meet up point. It was a hot day and my bug net limited the air flow. I pushed it to the top of my head to take in a little extra air. About half an hour later I reached up to pull it back down again to fend off another onslaught of bugs. The net wasn¢t there. It must have fallen off my head. There was no way I was going back for it. I guess that the bugs had the last laugh after all as they continued their assault unhindered.1.3 miles left. I was so tired and anxious to finish. I couldn¢t get my legs to hike any faster. In front of me was a long stretch of flat terrain with almost no rocks. I couldn¢t walk faster, but perhaps I could run! It was unheard of! I trip so often, a trip while running would surly end in a fall. But, maybe if I was extra diligent in lifting my feet high and avoiding rocks, I could do it.Oh just give it a try!I ran. No more than .2, but I ran. And it was easy! I walked for a short bit, and then I ran again, laughing at myself in disbelief of what I was doing. I have never been someone who runs. I walk. Nothing more. Yet here I was after hiking 23 miles, running down the trail. When the parking lot came into view in the distance, I slowed to a walk. I didn¢t want to scare anyone into thinking something was chasing me. Mark was there with the bbq frying me up a burger. I was exhausted, but proud of Cole and myself. Yes we were slackpacking but still we had hiked our longest day yet, 24.1 miles and I had run most of the last.