Shenandoah

Kicking off my entrance with a zero-and-a-half made a visible difference in my energy level I'm told. Having sworn off KEEN shoes forever I was now in lightweight Garmont boots which are my first love in hiking brands. The Bourgeois had most everything awaiting me that I miss on the trail...matress, bathtub, steak, fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, icecream, and familiar faces.

On that note, the afternoon rain held off and I began catching up again with hikers I hadnt seen since Hot Springs, or even the Smokies. At 70 degrees hiking in the next days prolonged downpours hardly phased me. But clearly I cant buy a nice view in a National Park.

If anything was to get me down it was the fact that my big toes had been wrecked by the KEENs and little toes get cut off by the new boots, which were already way past the point of no return. I trimmed circles out of the insoles make extra space inside and eventually resorted to cutting out two inches of the sidewalls to let my toes expand to their natural position. If the heels are snug enough I may try mens boots next time. But for now I have something that works for me and sometimes I hike in my flipflops for a few miles to mix it up and now I have my Chacos back for that.

Had to say a few goodbyes this week to long-distance-section-hikers moving on for the time being, but we ended on good memories. Terrain through the Park is pretty smooth and well graded. And I still have a few more days of the Park under forcasted clear skies. Well, it's way past hikermidnight so I'm signing off.