Cool Blue, Chicory, Mabel and I are back at the Ice Castle of Momma Draper and Kinley after hiking 139 miles in 8 days, which includes a few nearly zero mile days. I have to say that we are pretty beat up. The Long Trail is no joke! It reminds me a lot of the AT in Southern Maine. The trails are rugged and 27 peaks over 3500 feet and plenty over 4.
I have really enjoyed seeing the predecessor and inspiration for the Appalachian Trail and I am really glad we are doing it. We haven’t met many Long Trail thru-hikers on the trail but the few that we have met very often are finishing the top section from their AT thru-hike. Perhaps knocking this out now will free us up to do some other adventure in the future. That being said we came out of the woods on Monday feeling tired and beat up.
Long Trail injuries in order of severity are as follows: Mabel has a tick disease, Cool Blue and I have shin splints, and Chicory is diseased of the mind. It sounds awful at first but really apart from these we have been experiencing a parade of fortunate events. I am amazed at how orchestrated our good fortune seems to be and I am very grateful to be sitting on a comfortable couch in the Ice Castle.
A few days ago I noticed that Mabel was really stiff when she got up in the morning and she was becoming progressively more and more lethargic. One day when we were in Jonesville stealth camping in a local squatter’s back yard named James, I tried to roll Mabel over to make more space in our “tent” she yelped in pain. I couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong at first because I mistakenly thought that the pain was in her shoulder. When I tested it before getting back on the trail she seemed fine and continued to hike without much perceivable complaints.
The next town we reached was Waterbury and we were eager to take a shower and get into some clean clothes. After having an amazing breakfast of pancakes with eggs and bacon inside, we walked down the main drag and found a thrift shop. There I picked up a pair of shorts and a brand new gap shirt to wear while my clothes were washing for $2.25 all told. Right across the street I saw a fire station and came up with the idea to ask the firemen if we could take a shower. When we walked in the station it was nearly abandoned but we did find the showers near the back entrance. So we walked right in as if we owned the place and took showers. There were two stalls in the men’s shower, one of which did not have a curtain so naturally I chose that one. Blue went conservative and used the private stall. In the showers we found soap and shampoo. It was probably one of the best showers I have taken since July 1st.
After our showers we went outside and were warmed ourselves in the sun. As we were getting ready to leave I picked up Mabel’s leg to free the leash and she again yelped. Much to her dismay I tested it again and recieved the same response. It was clear that she was in considerable pain so I decieded to take her to the vet again and see if there was anything sevaerly wrong. Chicory and Blue saw a sign for a Vet as we walked into town so after starting our laundry, Mabel and I walked back to the vet’s office. At first I had trouble finding it and passed right by the entrance. I eventully stopped at a near by salon to ask if she knew where it was. She pointed to a house about a block away. I went to the house and the office was closed but there was a number so I wrote it on my palm and walked back to the salon and asked to use the phone. The woman was very kind and let me use her phone.
The Dr. answered the phone and indicated that she was not in town and recommended another vet about 3 miles away in Waterbury Center, near the Ben and Jerry’s factory. I called the vet she referred me to hoping that they would say something over the phone that would be along the lines of “Your dog probably just needs rest.” Instead the vet-tech said they would need to see Mabel and they had an opening at 3 PM. It was noon and I was resolved to try to hitch there or walk to the vet as soon as possible so as not to miss the appointment. When I hung up the phone a friendly local mechanic named Bob waiting to get his hair cut offered to give us a ride when he finished and so shortly after his hair cut he drove us to Waterbury Center.
Mabel and I arrived 3 hours before the appointment but since they were unusually slow they let me see the Dr. early. In fact, we didn’t wait at all. They weighed her immediately and took her into the observation room and the Dr. was in the room soon after. The vet was extremely friendly and helpful and she quickly identified that it was not Mabel’s shoulders but both of her carpi (wrists). That led her to recommend screening Mabel for Lyme Disease. After the screening the Dr. said that she was infected with a tick related disease that can cause similar symptoms to Lyme Disease and oth are treated with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. At the last vet visit I acquired the anti-inflammatory drugs and so she just gave us the antibiotics and we were on our way.
Mabel and I walked to the street and I stuck out my thumb to hitch. Only about 4 cars passed me before a very sweet woman named Karen stopped and picked us up. She was probably in her late 60s or early 70s and an avid hiker. Her late husband, also an avid hiker, was recently featured in the latest issue of the Green Mountain Club’s magazine. She said she didn’t recognize that I was a hiker in my town clothes and if it weren’t for Mabel she wouldn’t have given me a ride. Before I knew it I was back in town eating one of the most amazing cheeseburgers of my life at the Prohibition Pig and not long after that I had made arrangements with John Draper to meet up with him so he could watch Mabel while she recovered.
I am amazed at how a series of seemingly unrelated events can fall together in an order that produces a seemingly very desirable outcome. I am not sure what would have happened if we didn’t go to town that day, or take showers at the firehouse. I can only say that it often seems that when I am open to what is in front of me, the world seems like a very friendly and convenient place. I guess I could look at Mabel getting sick as inconvenient or unfortunate, but I don’t recall when I have taken that point of view and things worked out so smoothly.
Furthermore, her story is just one of a series of events that seem to have an ambiance of synchronicity surrounding my trip so far. I don’t have the time or attention span to write about all of the rest. I think the fact that I have access to write at all is an indication of my current prosperity.
As far as the other injuries are concerned, after lots of rest, home cooking, bushels of Pennsylvania peaches, and some amazing company; we are ready to start hiking again. Chicory has recovered her sanity, Blue and are feeling better, and Mabel is looking perky thanks to Momma Draper and Kinely’s kindness.
Over the next few days we will slack pack our way to Kent Pond or Killington and then make our way to Massachusetts. If anyone would like to send any mail via USPS to myself or fellow hikers to the address below. To see a list of supplies that hikers appreciate check out the bottom of my previous post.
James Puckett
C/O General Delivery
Manchester Center, VT 05255
Please hold for AT hiker
ETA 9/2/2013
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