Date: 2014-04-18
From: Gooch Mountain Shelter

To: Lance Creek Campground
Miles today: 8.5

   I didn't sit by it. Got up early again around 7, got on the trail at 940. Really really loving the feeling of being on a new trail/hike every day. Always new scenery and often surprising changes in scenery fairly quickly.    I walked with Paul for a mile or so today. Found out he's 51, from San Antonio, divorced twice and has three kids around my age. His last divorce was just over a year ago and since then he's been trying to live more of a minimalist life. I'd say this is a pretty good way to help hold onto that mindset.    Since I was slowing down eventually, I caught up to Ivonne and walked with her for awhile. She's doing this with her 18 year old son, Tony, who has special needs. She was in the Army years back and her husband is too. We talked a lot about schooling since she's been homeschooling Tony and hopes he can get into college in two years and one of her other sons is an auditory learner so they're struggling with him too. The conversation turned to social media and how destructive it can be and is. Kids now lack social skills, relationships are more detached and difficult (though easier to stay connected in some), and just every day life can be so consumed by it. I hate how much it has taken over my life too so I'm really glad to be out here and not on a computer every day or looking at photos on Instagram and texting before bed.    After I passed her, I ran into Cheryl. We met briefly yesterday when she was complaining about her hair because she forgot to put it in a braid and it became really ratty and knotted. She was able to fix it last night and got a shower somewhere. Glad I brought a comb!   I was on my own for a bit after that. At Woody's Gap, there were rest rooms with toilet paper! I was so excited to be able to blow my nose! The little things...   Hiking was quick for the next 3+ miles. There was a beautiful overlook with huge slabs of rock to relax on. Instead of relaxing though, it was time to pull out the rain jacket and pack cover. Yvonne and Andi who are from Germany were doing the same. It was only lightly drizzling but you never know what it could turn into. I caught up to Zach right after there and we walked together for the last couple of miles which went very quickly. It stayed at a light drizzle but sometimes stopped. It felt nice to get cooled off and just listen to the rain. We did talk a lot since the trail wasn't too rough then. He told me the ending to How I Met Your Mother since I forgot to watch it before I left. I'll watch it all in order eventually. And if I don't, it's not really a big deal either.    For the whole hike today, my shoulders were fine until the last 1/4 mile where they were in a lot of pain. Maybe it was the rain. Either way, I was glad to see tents set up from afar. I set up mine quickly and pulled my pack inside so it wouldn't get wet. I unpacked, had a snack, and have just been writing. I was hoping the rain would stop so I could make dinner. It did at 330 or so but that was too early. I guess I could've cooked it and let it sit until I was hungrier. I did let some food soak but the rain never let up so I had to transfer it to my Gatorade bottle which was a chore. I still had to get out to hang my food bag though. At shelters, they have bear cables so it's simple to just clip on and hoist up. Short Ben was near me though and offered to help hang my bag. He was trying to show me the knots and all that but we'll definitely have to go through it again when it's not raining and we're not rushing. It was really nice of him to help me with it.    The tent pads we have to be set up on really suck and definitely collect more water/mud than if we were on regular ground. I might have made a poor choice on the tent because there's quite a bit of splash up onto the mesh. I have to keep things away from it. Hopefully I'll be near towns or a shelter when there's heavy rain from now on but I'm surviving. I just don't want my bag or certain things to get wet. We'll see what happens by the morning!