Date: 2007-07-25
From: Shaws

To: Horseshoe Canyon Lean-To
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: scattered clouds

mi. 8dest. horseshoe canyon lean-tosleep hammockday 13When I decided to do an online journal I made the decision to do it the same asif it was just for myself, but keep everything PG-13. I figured it would be awaste of time for me to write it and everyone else to read it if I sugar coatedeverything. Having said that today was one of those days.Today started out just like yesterday. I woke up to a good nights sleep havingthe bunk room all to myself. Everyone else was in semi or private rooms ortenting outside. Once again I made it downstairs before beakfest was evencooking.The Shaw's breakfest is great if my last entry did not convince you. Today'slucky number was 3. With french toast in place of pancakes. I got to talkingto 3 of the section hikers. They were 2 different groups from S.C. One of themwas originally from Tiffin, OH. Really close to my hometown. It was nice tohave someone else do the whole Cedar point is no where near me speach for once. I'm a little sick of it after 10 years. Now I usually say Cincy not to get intothe whole thing. For those who are wondering I am originally from a small towncalled Upper Sandusky, OH. They were all engineers that had worked for the oldBell labs. I thought it was interesting to hear their point of view on thewhole thing.After eating I packed up determined to get out of Shaw's and Monson. I did setaround for awhile first and talk to Clay some. He was commenting on how big andheavy his full sized gaitar was. I showed him the tin whistle that Doctari gaveme that I am carrying. He said that he actually heard me playing at the pondthe one day and said it sounded good. That's pretty cool he had to be a waysaway.I ended up giving clay what I am not taking in terms off all of the food that Ihave. Caratunk is only 38 miles south. I am taking 4 days of food so that Ican take my time.I hit the road with a shuttle back to the trail around 10am. I want to take itslow and let my ankle heal up. I decided to walk for 20 or 30 minutes at atime, then take a break. Which was pretty easy to tell as I had 4 cups of OJ, 3cups of coffee, and a liter of water before I left. I also walked pretty slow. On the order of 1-1.5 mph. I walked with my right foot and left trekking pole,then left foot and right trekking pole. I think that takes a lot of pressureoff your feet. I tried to keep my left flat when I walked. I have also beentrying to walk straight and turn by stepping and not twisting my legs. I thinkthat helps me knees and legs.Everything felt great. I when the 4 miles I originally wated to go to the lake. When I got there I did not find any really good spots. I could have foundsomething that would have worked. The trail just south of Monson also runsalong a snowmobile/atv trail. I didn't want to stay close to that. By the timeI got past the lake, the shelter was only another 3 or 4 miles. So I decided topush on.Today was also the first time that I had to move when I was taking a break.Before I could set where ever and take up the whole trail. Today someoneactually came by and I had to move for them. First time in over 120 miles. Itwill be a lot more once the northbound pack hits me in a couple weeks.As I was walking for some reason my mood got really bad. All the thoughts ofnot making it, wanting to stop, and just plain not enjoying the hike came back. I am not sure what brought it on, but by the time I got to the shelter I didn'tknow what I wanted to do.I set there and talked to a northbounder by the name of diablo. Another oneshowed up that I didn't get his name. After talking for awhile, my mood changedand I was enjoying things once again.I know that I need to end and talk to people at the end of my day, but somethingseemed different today. Sitting at Shaw's all I wanted to do was get back outhiking and all the sudden I wasn't enjoying myself. This is something that I amplanning on puttng a lot of thought into. Above all this should be fun and Ishould be enjoying myself. If not than what's the point.On a lighter note I forgot once again to take a pic of my hammock setup. Thisone would be a good one with the privy in the background.Also there is a lot of moose poo around the shelter. The first place I wasgoing to set up had a big pile next to my head and foot end. I'm not just tolooking on the ground where I setup. I think I am going to have to start.The 2 northbounders here are also from ohio. One from Cincy and the other grewup in Columbus. We had some fun talking about ohio in general and the lack ofgood hiking there.