A couple of pesky miles, or maybe four, I wasn’t sure. Regardless, I had attempted this tiny stretch of the NCT repeatedly without success. I couldn’t find the trailhead, car problems sent me home, endless rain relocated me to the cabin, a creepy truck parked on the trail activated my spiny senses and I ran in the opposite direction. I thought the 5th time might be charmed, but I got a late start. The sun would set soon. I felt overwhelmed and frustrated. Am I not supposed to hike this stretch?
I HAVE to.
I headed to the trail, determined to put these miles behind me. I remembered the segment being 2.5 miles which is 5 miles round-trip. The territory is hilly, which is challenging and more time-consuming. I MIGHT have been able to hike it by sunset but when I looked at the map again, I realized it was over 3 miles. The extra mile would really challenge me. When I got to the trailhead, the sign said 4.2 miles– groans and curses go here. How could I hike 8.4 challenging miles in two and a half hours? It was going to get cold tonight. It would be embarrassing to get lost in the dark and have to be rescued. I hiked, knowing I would not complete the stretch. Again. I could figure out a plan while I walked.
There were lots of cobwebs across the trail, evidence that no one had been on it recently. Remembering the creepy truck was a bad start. The looming cold and darkness didn’t help. I was rattled. The more I thought about it, the worse it got. I was also agitated from the 350-mile drive. I was so frustrated. I wanted to finish these miles. They dangled, annoyingly, between completed miles. I walked fast, almost running, not paying attention. I fell. Falling is always a reminder of potential trouble, especially hiking solo. I reprimanded myself. “Shhhh!” was my audible response. I wasn’t having fun. Eye on the prize, not the experience. Sigh. It should be ALL about the experience. I needed to slow down and figure out what was going on.
I was annoyed because I didn’t want to drive anymore. It was Friday and my campsite was literally ON the NCT, allowing me two whole days to camp and hike without getting in my car. I also really wanted these miles in the book.
Understanding the challenge helped. Hiking the NCT is a puzzle. I am always trying to figure out how the next piece fits and I had been fussing with this piece for a very long time. I realized that if I could find the elusive Townline Road trailhead Monday, I could finish on my way home. It would be fun to hike a little before I made the trek back.
I rarely hike on driving days, but I liked the idea of integrating a short hike. I convinced myself to LOVE the idea. Instead of two hikes, I would get four. I eased into the weekend with a short sunset walk. I could ease back to reality on Monday too.
The hike became less frantic. When I estimated half of the time before sunset had elapsed, I searched for a place to turn around, one that I would recognize when I came from the other direction on Monday. There was a fallen tree across a footbridge. It seemed like a sign, lol.
My pace slowed on the way back. I was close to the car and the trail turned into a two-track, so there was little chance of wandering off accidentally. I had fun taking pictures of the sunset along the fence line.
My body and mind relaxed more fully. Once in the car, it FELT like Friday night and I enjoyed the drive back to camp along dirt roads. I listened to the radio loud and sang along. The windows were down despite the dust.
Deer were lined up in a field that looked purple in the fading light. I slowed and then stopped so I could see my gentle dark-eyed friends under the rising moon. I turned down the music a little but kept singing. They looked at the spectacle that was me and twitched their ears. I think they were singing too. “There’s something wholesome, there’s something sweet, tucked in your eyes that I’d love to meet.”