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Today's Flooded Trail - Miles Were Like This

It rained really hard last night and the clatter on the perspex roof was very loud. Despite that I went to sleep quickly - it's amazing what we can tolerate when we are tired. Strangely it did wake me up when the rain stopped briefly. I never looked at the time but it had to be late and I saw that two other hikers had just arrived at the shelter. When my alarm went off I saw them just leaving so they must be real hard core. It was still raining hard and although my clothes were still quite wet I decided to try all the raingear today. Usually I get way too hot but today there weren't any hills to speak of and it worked out well.

There were a few rock challenges early on that I successfully negotiated. Then the trail went across a very flat plateau and the trail was essentially the low point. Consequently it attracted all the water and the runoff was all flowing down the trail. Sometimes it would be running with me and other times opposite to the direction I was going. Initially I tried to dodge the water but that was futile and soon I was just wading through it. At times it was above my ankles and the deepest was half way up my shin. And it was cold so my feet were feeling it. Normally the trail is constructed with rain bars that direct water off the trail before it gathers any momentum. It's almost the first law of trail building to get the water away to prevent erosion. But here there was nothing that prevented the water doing whatever gravity dictated. And it wasn't just a single spot, this went on for many miles. One big advantage of trail runner shoes over heavier hiking boots is that as soon as you get onto dry ground they shed the water in them very quickly giving my feet an opportunity to warm up.

The rain eventually stopped late morning and when I stopped for lunch the sun came out. So I packed up all the raingear and gave my clothes a chance to dry out. There was still a lot of moisture on the overgrowth but the clothes were drying so quickly it didn't have any effect.

Towards evening I was getting close to Port Clinton and was contemplating getting a hotel room rather than pressing on. When it started to rain again that made up my mind very quickly. As I went down the last steep slope into town the heavens opened with a heavy thunderstorm and I was quickly soaked again. I went to the PO getting there just as he closed. Unfortunately my package had not arrived but fortunately a guy came in to mail something and he immediately asked me if I wanted a ride to Hamburg, Pa. Naturally I accepted as that is where the hotel is. I've just written this entry sitting in the hotel laundry drying out my clothes for the second time today.

A few people have asked how my knee is doing. Well I havn't used the brace since the day before getting to Front Royal and although I still get a few twinges they are nothing more than the normal aches and pains. I think everything is back in equilibrium - all is operating as designed and occasionally reminding me that they don't like the workload. Thanks to all of you that have sent messages via the guestbook. They mean a lot to me - keep them coming.

Entry 58 of 58
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