Woman on Her Way

On our way to Vermont

Yesterday an Thursday we hiked about 5 miles in Winnekenni Park in Haverhill, Ma. I think my legs are ready for the easy first days on the Long Trail. After the walk on Friday, we picked up a pizza and I couldn’t resist this beer, just because of the name.

Today, it is rainy and cool (56 F), which makes me hesitant. But, it is what it is, and I will have to make the best of it. We should arrive at the B&B late this afternoon and we’ll have our last night in a bed for a while. Our ride to the start of the Long Trail in North Adams, Ma. is confirmed. Tomorrow, we will walk to the Seth Warner Shelter, at about 2000 ft. elevation. We plan to use our tents, unless it is lightening, then we’ll stay inn the shelter, if there is room.

I’m still apprehensive, mostly because of the weather. Long range weather forecast isn’t too bad, with chances of thunder showers for the next several days. Hopefully we will be in shelters when that happens, or at least below tree level. Since the first part of the Long Trail is also part of the Appalachian Trail, there should be lots of hikers around for the first 100 miles.

We plan to start slowly, walking only about 7 to 8 miles the first days. As we gain stamina, we’ll increase the distance. We hope to be in Manchester Center on the 20th, where we have sent a resupply box. Perhaps we’ll splurge there for a bed and hot shower. There are many possibilities. That’s what makes this so much fun.

Training in NH

Dennis and I went hiking on the back roads around Newton, NH. Everything is verdant and vibrant following the rains. The rhododendrons, azaleas, and spring flowers add colors not seen in Florida. We also saw golden finches, robins, cottontails, and other small woods animals.

I had not realized how much I missed the smell of newly mowed NH grass. What goes for grass in Florida does not have the same fragrant attraction.

We walked with our packs and while pushing a baby stroller. This week we will do both simultaneously. While I push Ronan, Dennis has our granddog on a leach, which greatly slows him done. We are always calling out to Grandpa and Jasper to hurry up. We purchased some of our food goods and will add those to the pack after we go through them one final time.

It is still cool here…only in the 40s at night. I’m hoping it will warm up by next week. Even the training in NH is not preparing me for sleeping on the ground in cold nights. Am I becoming a 65-year-old wimp?

Changing to hiker mode

On our drive north, I read the Green Mountain Club Long Trail Guide, Hiking Vermont’s High Ridge. It divided the trail into twelve divisions. Each corresponding chapter included a profile map, descriptions of the route, and its side trails. Though the book offers a lot of information, we will not take it with us. It is too heavy. Instead we will take a corresponding map, and note points of interest on it.

What I learned from the book

There are no poisonous snakes in Vermont (VT), but there are porcupines, mice, raccoons, squirrels, peregrine falcons, black bears, and deer. We need to take precautions against the deer tick.
Water is abundant. It just needs filtering.
The Long Trail is marked with a white blaze, as is the Appalachian Trail (AT), which it follows for the first 100 miles.
After the Long Trail separates from the AT, there are more four-sided lodges than shelters. Depending of the weather, we intend to use our tent, for the most part.
We may encounter winter conditions at higher elevations during the spring (Oh, my!)
Spring and Fall are the mud and bug seasons (black flies and mosquitoes). To prevent erosion of “extremely muddy trails,” we may be rerouted.
Be prepared for quickly changing weather and prevent hypothermia, which can cloud judgement, Which Dennis might say is already impaired.
The Long Trail goes through three arctic-alpine areas. These have fragile eco-systems with indigenous plants.

As the van struggled up the Pennsylvanian hills, I envisioned climbing similar hills. If a 130 horse-powered engine found it difficult, how much so will I?

In Wilkes-Barre, we stopped for coffee. Sitting outdoors at the cafe, the panorama spans approximately five miles. I think that it would take me most of a day to hike up and down those hills. My conscientiousness is changing to hiker mode. With this perspective shift, time and distance become more relative to how long it takes me to walk x number of miles, with x amount of elevation. ( A rough calculation is to allow 30 minutes for every mile, plus 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet of ascent).

A few days later, Dennis, Aine (daughter), and I walk three miles in the Plaistow Town Forest. We spray ourselves against the mosquitoes, but I fail to put the repellent under my skirt and the pest quickly sting my thighs. (I never had to worry about mosquitoes while hiking in a skirt in Europe.) We diverted around a few muddy areas, but the forest is dry. After being cooped in the car for three days, it feels good to get moving. I plan to hike here with a full pack next week.

Sunday the temperatures plummeted from the mid 80s to the 40s. It pours like Florida rain and I am thankful for not yet having started the hike. In two weeks, I hope the weather is more stable and a lot warmer. In spite of the rain, I am looking forward to the hike.

Hiking with long or short hair

For the last month or so, I have been trying to decide if I should cut my mid-back-long hair. If I keep it long, I can put in a bun, out of my face. If I leave it loose, it can help against the bugs. If I cut it short, it would fly in the wind and be easier to wash and dry. I am still flip-flopping, but I really love my daughter’s new short do.

What have been your experiences with hiking with long hair? Please comment.

Tweaking gear

A few trial hikes discouraged me from using Dennis’ Gregory Z35 Pack. The torso is about two inches too long. It didn’t sit right and caused me to lean forward too much. Not wanting to spend money on another pack, I decided to use my Osprey Talon 33 back pack. I’ll miss the extra three cubic feet, but not the 3/4 lbs. If I need to, I will strap a day pack to my backpack to carry food.

Dennis and I spent several hours tweaking gear to reduce the bulk and weight. Everything in my bag has a purpose, sometimes two. For example, mouthwash can be used as an antiseptic, dental floss for sewing, etc. The only thing I have doubles of is clothing, one that I’ll be wearing and the other in the pack or hanging from it to dry.

Since we are starting the hike on June 16, I decided against the warm weather clothing. Even though is will soon be summer, the evenings can be cold in the mountains. I’ve become a chilly-willy since I moved to Florida. I hope I won’t regret my decision.

In all, my gear including water and food weighs 31.77 pounds (12.4 kilos). I’m not bothered by the weight during my practice walks. Who knows what will happen in the hills and mud.

Dennis solved our transportation problem. We will stay at the North Troy Inn Bed and Breakfast on June 15, where we will leave the van. The next day Doug McKain, a Green Mountain Club volunteer, will shuttle us 270 miles or so to North Adams, MA, and the start of the Long Trail.

Things are looking good.

Gear change

100_0685 — Dennis at the start of the Long Trail, North Adams, Massachusetts. (Taken in 2008)

Dennis and I were speakers at the Appalachian Trail Club of Florida. Dennis presented slides from his 2008 walk on the first part of the Long Trail, which is also part of the Appalachian Trail (AT). I think he was a little wary that all the photos of the mud might change my mind about going.

100_0684 — Most likely I’ll be traipsing in mud the length of Vermont.

After the slide presentation, we showed the members the contents of our backpacks for their thumbs-up or thumbs-down. Most of my gear was approved, but several people commented on how small my Osprey Talon 33 backpack was. Afterwards, I decided that it was really too small to carry 10+ lbs. of food in addition to everything else. Instead, I am going to use the pack that Dennis used on the Camino and our travels in Europe, a Gregory Z35 Pack. It is 12 oz. heavier, but has greater carrying capacity.

In addition to this gear change, Dennis lightened his 2008 AT load buy purchasing lighter equipment. With the new technology, his pack weighs about 4 lbs less.

Since Spain, I enjoy café con leche, a coffee/warm milk beverage. I drink an Americanized version of it daily. Since I don’t like instant coffee and can’t see using the gas in our canisters to brew a pot, I asked the club members what they did on the trail. Almost everyone said to use Starbucks Via, single-serving instant coffee packets that they enjoyed. Today I found out they even have a Coffee Mocha version. I’m sure I’ll try both.

This morning I walked with the larger pack. I will have to get use to the new fit, but I think I will be able to do so. Just in case, I’m taking the smaller pack to NH, as a backup.

“My bags are pack, and I’m ready to go.”

Preparing for the Long Trail

I am preparing to hike the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the US—272 (435 km) miles long running the length of Vermont from the Massachusetts to the Canadian borders. It is considered more difficult and rugged than the Appalachian Trail, with lots of mud and mountains (53 named ones) including 27 that are over 3,500 ft. high.

To get in shape and to learn how to use hiking poles, I take early morning walks carrying a 30-pound pack. Never having used poles, I found them awkward at first but have developed a rhythm, at least while tap-taping on Sarasota streets. My morning ventures have produced unusual comments and lots of questions.

One woman warily keeping her distance asked me what I was doing in her neighborhood (one that I have been walking through for years). She seemed more accepting of me when I told her that I was in training to walk the Long Trail. By her demeanor, I assumed she thought I was a street person casing out the area.
Another woman asked me how far I was going to walk on the trail. “Two miles?” she guessed. I imagine for some people, walking two miles is a long distance.
One woman said, “Oh, you’ve had your baby!” At almost 65 years old, I couldn’t imagine what she was talking about until I noticed that she was trying to look over my shoulder. She had confused the backpack with a child carrier. That’s understandable, but why did she think I just had a baby.

There are no mountains in Sarasota to train on. Some people use the Ringling Bridge or the Celery Fields to help develop the leg muscles. Instead, I have been working out with weights and a step-bench. I know that this is not adequate training, but until I get to NH where I will have two weeks to practice walking the local hills, its the best I can do. My husband and walking partner, Dennis has been bicycling, but that is not the same as walking. Knowing that we will not have our “hiking legs,” we will start off slowly and walk short distances until our bodies adapt. Luckily, the first 100 miles on the Long Trail are the easiest.

I have yet to decide if I will hike in a skirt (my preference) or wear long pants to ward of the black flies, mosquitoes, and deer ticks. Dennis, purchased Permethrin to spray on our clothing. Since the EPA states “a 140-pound person would have no adverse health effects if exposed to 32 grams of Permethrin/day.” and there is less than 1 gram of Permethrin in an entire bottle of clothing treatment, it seems that using this toxic chemical is a good precaution against the Lyme Disease-bearing ticks.

Gear

Having hiked long distances before, I only needed to buy gear for wilderness hiking. This included

We are using the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person Tent that we used on other adventures. Dennis will most likely carry this.

Clothing

Instead of hiking boots, I purchased Topo Athletic wide toe box shoes and added a metatarsal support to the right shoe. I have been wearing the new shoes all day and have no problems with them. I just hope they are rugged enough to withstand the wear and tear of the muddy trail. I also purchased Injinji toe socks which are said to help prevent blisters. They felt funny at first, but I quickly accustomed to the “toes.”

I also ordered a pair of Off-Road Crocs, which are supposedly more rugged than the original ones. The drawback is that they are heavier.

Food

According to research, we each should plan to carry 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. per day depending on body size and exertion. We each bought one dehydrated meal, for that night when we crave a special meal. The rest of the time, we will buy high-calorie foods such as pasta, couscous, rice, oatmeal, bagels, peanut butter, and Dennis’ favorite(?) hiking food: Pop Tarts.

To cook the food, we need to carry fuel. The canisters add 1.5 lbs to my pack.

Water is plentiful on the Long Trail. We only need to purify it. For this we purchased the Sawyer mini water filter. It’s much lighter than the filter Dennis used on his Appalachian Trail adventure.

As it stands today, I think my pack will weight 35.54 lbs (13.57 k), unless I decide not to take the fleece jacket and pants. According to Wunderground.com, the average temperature in June and July 2014 at Troy VT was 61 °F. That’s on the chilly side for this Floridian. Of course, it will be warmer in North Adams, MA, where we start. I am hoping that by the time we reach Troy, I will have acclimated.

This Wednesday, we are taking our packs to the Appalachian Trail Club of Florida. They will evaluate my packing list Hopefully they will find ways for me to reduce the load a bit. I’m not too worried about the weight. I carried the equivalent or more on past trips. The backpack is on the small side for wilderness hiking, so fitting everything including food will be tricky.

My next big adventure: 270 miles on the Vermont Long Trail

After Memorial Day, Dennis and I are heading up to New Hampshire to spend time with our daughter and her family. While she and hubby are on a week-long cruise, we will care for their 19-month son and their pets. Living 1400 miles away, I welcome this opportunity to spoil my only grandchild.

Walking the hills around Newton NH will be training for the mountains of Vermont. Starting in mid June, I will attempt my first long-distance wilderness hike: 270 miles on the Vermont Long Trail. Though I have walked further, my previous hikes were far from ruffing it. I’ve become spoiled with European hostels, B&Bs, hot showers, warm meals, and the conviviality of traveling from community to community.

This will be different. My accommodation will be a tent. My bed will be a sleeping bag atop an eggshell foam mat. We will prepare our meals from supplies we carry in. We plan to go into a town about once a week for food, shower, pampering, and groceries.

We estimate that the trip will take approximately a month. We intend to start off slowly, and then increase the distance as our bodies adjusts.

We purchased two guides to help up navigate the trail, and are using the gear from previous hikes. The only new items include new boots for Dennis (I’m still looking), hiking poles for me, and a water filter to prevent catching a water-borne disease. We will also have to treat our clothes against deer ticks, which carry Lyme Disease.

For the most part we are prepared. Today I am packing my backpack. For the next month, I will wear it on my morning walks to help my body will get use to the straps. I will also try to learn how to use the walking sticks. In the past, I found them unhelpful, but using them properly can reduce chances for knee injury or shin splints, so its to my advantage to develop a rhythmic stride with the poles.

I’m starting to get excited for our next adventure. I hope you will follow along on this blog.

Have you walked the Vermont Long Trail? If so, are there places I should make a point to visit/avoid? Any words of advice? Please Comment.

April 20, 2015 City Island Park, Sarasota

O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill on City Island Park in Sarasota

City Island Park in Sarasota is becoming one of my favorites places in the city. Today we met friends for lunch at O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill. We sat under the thatched roof near the water watching the pelicans land on the wind-swept waves. It was balmy and the breeze was soothing. We each ordered something different to eat, and we were all satisfied with our selections. Like in England, you have to go the to bar to place your order. We would have sat there a long time waiting for service if our friends Dave and Judy Helgager weren’t in on the QT.

Scapegoat panel at the Embracing Our Differences Exhibition

Paint Your One Picture panel at the Embracing Our Differences Exhibition

After lunch, we explored the “Embracing Our Differences Exhibition.” Believing that diversity is one of the world’s greatest assets, the exhibit tries to honor diversity and inclusion while teaching the importance of being an “up-stander,” not a “by-stander.”

There are 39 billboard-size images created by local, national and international artists, writers and students. Two of my favorite student quotations are:

“Destroy discrimination. Be like a Panda. They’re white, they’re black, they’re Asian, and they’r chubby.” Dylan De Wulf 5th Grade, Wilkinson Elementary School
Sarasota, Florida

“The path of your life JOURNEY is made more memorable and colorful by the cast of characters your encounter” ~ Grace Carlson, Sarasota, Florida

In addition to the exhibit, there are permanent statues, the children’s fountain, walking paths with benches and swings—nice calming place to spend a few hours.

I miss the Season of Sculpture exhibits that were on the bay front. I hope they return.

January 31, 2015 Visiting Sarasota

A Ann and Jane Lido Beach nne’s visit is coming to an end. Luckily the weather has warmed enough (60s) to enjoy outdoor activities. We started our day with a walk on Lido Beach, enjoying the late morning sunshine, the soft sand beneath our feet, and easy conversation as we walked the shoreline. I love the beaches in Sarasota and wonder why I don’t visit them as often as I would like.

“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” ~ John Burroughs

The beach was mostly empty, except for the sun-burned snowbirds and a group of fully-clothed Amish. Only a few intrepid children braved the 62°F waters. Seagulls and terns also enjoyed the sunshine. The birds did not seem to mind being in mixed company. Of course, curious Ann wanted to know what species they were, but I could not identify them.

At the Old Salty Dog, we continued to take in the sunshine and the view while we ate fresh fish for lunch. We topped off the meal with Chocolate Explosion, a rich dessert made of fudge, caramel, pecans and chocolate mousse. Out on the deck, guest sat with their dogs, and I was reminded of the pubs in England that cater to the canine pet owners.

Following the meal, we went to the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, one of Sarasota’s little known gems. The parking lot gardens are filled with gaily painted sculptures. There are animal statues made from horseshoes and flowers made from painted beer bottles.

All this fun stuff fit perfectly in the afternoon’s frivolity. We were carefree and enjoying ourselves, the sunshine, and the museum. The front of the pink building is decorated with a mismatch of flags, lights, flamingos, flowers—even a cement snowman.

As we entered, I saw Art, an ultra-realistic sculpture created by Marc Sijan. At first glimpse, I thought he was a security guard, which was most likely the desired effect. I saw the docent smile at me as I took a second look. I’m sure I wasn’t the first to be fooled by this creation. The docent told us that museum founder and curator, Marietta Lee, was a graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. She created the museum to display women’s artwork, humorous art, and works of living artists.

The indoor collection includes bright, light-hearted paintings, sculpture and stained glass. One room has a light show on the ceiling. Every nook and cranny has something to catch the eye.

The outdoor gardens feature a spinning ballerina, a stainless steel rocket ship, and a bathysphere. Gaily painted chairs and benches invite you to sit under the canopied oak grove . Cascading water adds to the garden’s tranquility. Everywhere there is something to see.

We spent several hours appreciating the art, the gardens, and the creativity. The docent returned to ask us our opinion of the museum and to tell us that it was expanding to include a room for featuring local artists, an art storage area, and more gardens. I am glad so many Sarasotans enjoyed this light side of the arts and donated for its maintenance and expansion.

Leaving the museum, we headed downtown to Bay Island Park. As usual this time of year, finding a place to park took time. The park is an excellent place for recreational fishing, scenic viewing, and people watching. We enjoyed seeing the pelicans swoop down to catch a meal—they are such clumsy but effective divers. We marveled at the amount of boats moored there, and what it would be like to live on a house boat. We sat on a bench, soaking in the late afternoon rays, looking at the Ringling Bridge, and having quiet conversation. Today was a good day. Visiting Sarasota can be a lot of fun.

Thurs. 29-Jan-2015 Red Bug Slough and Turtle Beach

Yesterday, my friend from Massachusetts and I walked through the Red Bug Slough Preserve. Since this park is near my home, it is a favorite of mine. This 72-acre preserve has several miles of hiking trails to walk and spend time with each other and with nature. We were even lucky enough to see an otter in the pond. Once inside the park, it is hard to image that this area is completely surrounded by development. It truly is a haven.

The Red Bug Slough (slow) is a water channel that flows from Phillippi Creak down to Beneva Ave., about 1.5 miles. Historically this was a series of marches connected only during heavy rainfall, but it has since been deepened and the water now flows year-round.

The Slouch is a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. There are alligators, river otters, freshwater turtles, and a variety of waterfowl. We saw egrets and ducks. Overhead birds of prey glided on the air thermals.

There are live oak, laurel oak and water oak, though I am not adept at identifying each. The closed canopy from these trees is ideal for the plants and animals that prefer the shade cover. There are reports of raccoons and blue jays, but we saw neither.

We did encounter several dogs out for a walk with their masters. The stopped for a scratch and sniff, and then continued on.

After our visit at the preserve we went to Turtle Beach. The sand is not as softer there as as Siesta Key, but it is not as crowded. I was surprised to see how much winter erosion there was. The beach was not very wide and there was a steep drop to the water’s edge.

We walked south for about a mile. One Sandhill Crane stood immobile. It watched me as a walked close to it, but did not move. Most of the shore fisherman had a disappointing catch.

On our return trip, we walked past the entrance to the beach. I just did not recognize the walkway to the parking lot because of the beach’s changed appearance. After about a quarter of a mile, we turned around. Prior to leaving the beach, my friend sat and enjoyed the Gulf view.

In all, visiting Red Bug Slough and Turtle Beach was a wonderful way to spend a morning in sunny Sarasota.