I will start by saying thanks to all of you who checked in on me because you hadn’t heard from me in a while. I’ve been in a bit of a writing desert, unable to push myself to do it, feeling whatever I had to say was mostly dribble. In part my difficulty was spurred by some medical things that were going on.

The insole explosion that badly burned my foot is turning out to be a gift that keeps on giving. As a result of breathing in the smoke from the exploded lithium ion battery while I was taking my boot off, I’ve had some breathing issues and was recently diagnosed with burn pit asthma. While diagnosing that they found a spot on my lung which took three weeks for me to get feedback on. The doctor told me I might have to be flexible with planning my hike. I wasn’t sure if or when I’d be able to set out. Finally, at 7:30 pm on a Sunday evening I got a call from a doctor giving me the all clear to head out, saying they’ll do another CAT scan in six months.

I was proud of myself that I spent almost no time worrying about it. What I learn on my adventures has really made a difference in how I live my day-to-day life. Remembering that while on trail I could give up worrying about getting a ride into town or where I might sleep in any given night, and remembering that all I have to do is just put one foot in front of the other and move forward, really helped me ride out this last month, waiting for the CAT scan results. I can honestly say I didn’t lose any sleep over it although I did feel relieved by getting the phone call assuring me my hiking plans wouldn’t be interrupted by a medical procedure on my lung. It had been difficult for me to continue planning with the results of my first cat scan unknown.

I also had a really horrible bout of vertigo which left me throwing up for four hours before I finally threw in the towel and called the first aid squad. I was fairly certain I had thrown the crystals out of where they need to be in my ear and what I needed was to do an Epley maneuver, but I couldn’t move enough to make it happen. The hospital drugged me down enough to stop the nausea and then we were able to do the Epley maneuver. I was much better after that though it has taken a few days to really feel like doing much of anything. Even in the hard times, I’ve been working to find at least one thing every day to be grateful for. I didn’t want to post a blog that was just full of the rough stuff in my life. Now I have the go ahead for my hike, I’m motivated to write again.

https://northcountrytrail.org/the-trail/trail-maps/online/

One of the positive things is after a number of days and probably 100 phone calls and emails I have found places to mail my food drops to for about 1600 miles of hiking, which might be all I get done this summer. I even have someone willing to put some water out for me so I might not have to carry 20 miles worth on my first day. While there will be some water in that stretch, it’s a canal that’s full of really nasty agricultural runoff chemicals. I don’t love drinking water that’s full of cow poop but I’d rather drink that than ag runoff.

I’ve got my first six boxes packed and this week I hope to finish getting the others ready. I have another laser surgery on my foot on June 5 and I want to start driving west right around my 69th birthday, which will be on June 12. I’ll drive to Cornell, Wisconsin where I’ll leave my car with Julie and Pat Kosher who Trail Angeled me on the Ice Age trail. They’ll take me to a bus station where I’ll catch a bus to Bismarck. A Trail Angel there will take me to Lake Sacakawea State Park in North Dakota where I’ll start my hike on June 17. Once again, I am so grateful for all the people who help make my adventures a reality.

People keep asking me why I’m want to hike when my foot is so sore. My answer is I might as well be doing something I enjoy rather than sitting home being miserable with it. To some extent I have actually taught my brain to experience the pain in my foot as something other than bad pain. It still wakes me up about four times a night but during the day I’m better at taking it in stride and keeping going.

People also ask me if I’m afraid to do this alone. My reply is that the scariest parts are the drive out there and the ticks. Hiker’s currently on the trail are reporting getting as many as 100 ticks in one day!

Since the skin on my foot will be much more prone to breaking down if anything gets in my boot, I made gaiters and sprayed them with pyrethrum to hopefully help with keeping ticks down as well. I made them by cutting in half a neck buff that I never used. Then I took a pair of my favorite socks that had holes in the feet, cut the cuffs off and sewed them to one end of the buff. I put a hook on the other end and in about 10 minutes they were done. What I really love about them beside the color is that I can slip them on and off without taking my boot off.

I also took one of my old tents that was a bit leaky and cut a section of the roof out, doubled it up and made myself a lightweight dyneema food bag so I don’t have to carry my heavier ursack on this trip. I only use the ursack in areas where I’m concerned about bears getting into my food.

I’m also still working on trying to get my book finished and maybe out there before I leave. Since I write about real events with real people, I decided to make a few changes to protect myself against potential lawsuits down the line. It’s tedious work, but I’m hoping to have it done before I leave.

With all that’s been happening, I’m trying with even more resolve to live life fully in the present, continuing to do things that bring me joy and not worrying about the future. I hope all of you loyal readers can find something to be grateful for today and I look forward to having you come along with me as I begin my hike on the North Country Trail, which will be the last of the eleven national scenic trails I have yet to do.

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