Miles: 109.2 | Blueberry flapjacks, garden chores, ducks, and dirt under my fingernails — a morning that feels more like home than trail. The day unfolds with soup, music talk, a borrowed VW van, reunions over beer, and the quiet realization that healing doesn’t always look like miles. Sometimes it looks like staying put, using your hands, and letting peace catch up to you.
Donn made us blueberry flap jacks with asparagus and eggs for breakfast! And real maple syrup (so rare down here)! After breakfast we went outside with Donn to do some chores. He taught us how to plant peas and carrots. We met the ducks. We trimmed some vines around the property with the help of Lady. We fed the birds. Lastly, we moved some firewood around.
We came back up to the house for lunch. Sandi heated us a roasted red pepper and tomato soup while I made grilled cheese. We had a great chat over lunch about traveling, jobs, and cooking.
After lunch we talked about music for Sandi’s a capella group. We checked the weather again (bad forecast for the next 10 days, of course. Rain and temperatures in the negatives). Donn and Sandi had to go to an appointment and an a capella concert to attend but they didn’t want us to have to stay around the house so they offered for us to drive their van into town.
Their 2000 VW Eurovan (if you didn't know, I'm obsessed with VW vans...)! I was so excited (they are selling it if you are interested!!). We went back to Outdoor 76 (I know... I feel like I live there) to get Michelin some warmer layers, a new hat, and to get me camp pants that were on sale. After, we went to the bookstore across the street to browse. Next, we picked up Ohm, Kenji, and ‘Racha at the hostel they stayed at and headed to the Lazy Hiker for some beer.
It was so nice to be reunited with them again! Around 8:30 Donn and Sandi joined us for a drink. When we got home Donn and Sandi offered for us to stay another night. Unsure of how to face the weather and our injuries, Michelin and I decided to stay another night.
It had felt so good to be some place that felt like home again. To be around the animals and to be using my hands for something productive. At first I felt anxious about being in Franklin for so long and not hiking a lot during this week. But eventually I calmed down and had a philosophical chat with Donn and Michelin. Even though I wasn’t hiking, I felt happy and at peace.