Tuesday 10/27: Tortellini and a Poptart

I was eating dinner when Jonathan called tonight - he wanted to know what we were having. He had tortellini and a poptart.

He spent Sunday again with family, John and Rose, Fan, Mark and Cookie-dog, as well as Amy, Tim, and Cally. It was a lively and entertaining afternoon. He left Cally's Sunday evening and joined cousin, Amy, at her house for the night. They watched DVD's and laughed; it felt good.

Amy took him to a super large outdoor store to shop for boots Monday morning. After trekking around the store in many a boot, thoroughly sick of the shopping experience, he settled on a pair and bought a one year extended warranty as well - not taking any chances this time. He then parted company with Amy in Port Clinton. There he visited the outfitter's store and purchased water treatment drops, a new spoon, a new water bottle, and a smaller fuel canister. He also got help cleaning his stove which proved to be a long undertaking. By the time all was accomplished, it was 4:30 and he chose not to get such a late start on the trail.

He slept again in the pavilion in the company of Bad Idea, who recently finished a stint in the army, special operations. He is headed south but not continuously. He did the 100 mile wilderness to Katahdin in Maine and then skipped down to Connecticut and headed south from there. Jonathan and Madeline first met him on the stretch to Katahdin. Stick Man arrived in Port Clinton this morning.

Bad Idea told Jonathan of another hiker he met recently who has not only had a bout of Lyme disease on the trail, but also had to endure the series of rabies shots after being bitten by a raccoon in a shelter as he slept. He dreamt that someone was putting nails in his head only to find a raccoon biting his head when he awoke(yow!). Bad Idea has had a wicked bout of giardia which landed him in the hospital as well. We have had lucky hikers.

Jonathan left Stick Man and Bad Idea behind in Port Clinton and returned to the trail today under a light, but steady rain. Tomorrow is supposed to continue with heavy rain. So far his feet are dry. He is currently less than enthusiastic about hiking though. He's feeling bored, the days seem to drag, and he gets preoccupied with just reaching his next destination. What seems to be missing is enjoyment of the moment. This is reminiscent of what I was hearing from Madeline prior to her decision to leave the trail. Jonathan realizes he may just be at a low point, and plans to forge on for now. He wants to make it to the next trail town by Saturday in the hopes of catching some Halloween spirit.