Around our house (within a 15-20 mile radius) are lots of hiking trails. Seeing as how I spend a lot of time sitting down lately (with my 1 hour school commute and then study time when I'm at home--plus blog time), I thought I needed to find something active to do. I was discussing this with Lonnie (the guy who has the pond that I take Trevor to swim in--and Katie's owner) one day while we were sitting on the deck of the pond one Monday. I asked him whether it was safe to hike the trails. Specifically, was I going to run into any meth labs out in the woods. He said that he was pretty sure they were okay to hike. Then he tried to give me directions to them. My eyes glazed over immediately. On all the back roads around here, everything begins looking the same. So he told me when I wanted to go to let him know and he just take me over there and show me. Sounded like a plan to me. Wednesday after church, I went and found him and said--I'm ready to go hiking--tomorrow! He was free (He's retired, he ought to be free) and agreed to take me to the trail head. He asked if I intended to hike some too and I said I did. We planned to leave at 0730.
Aside #1: I feel the need to tell you a bit about Lonnie before I go on with this story. Lonnie is retired military special forces. He runs just about every day. He once floated the creek and a snake got in the boat with him and his wife, so he picked up the snake and ripped it in two. He's the kind of guy I want around when I find a snake on the trail! But there's another side of Lonnie too. He's honest to a fault, but he would just as soon climb a tree to mess with you than to stand on the ground and leave you alone. But he's a good 'ole guy. I really enjoy hanging out with him and his wife.So the next morning, we set out. I took Trevor with me, just too see how he'd do. I wanted to know if I took him out and about would he stay with me or run off. I didn't take my leash, which could have been a disaster, but bless his little doggy heart, Trev stayed right with us all day. We went to the trail head to see if we could start our hike there, but after Gustav-the-Let-Down, the area was just a marsh. Lonnie was concerned that there would be too many snakes in that area (and he didn't want to have to rip them apart). So we went farther up the trail to higher ground. We parked the jeep and started out on our short hike (or we thought it would be short). We walked...and walked...and walked. There were several bridges (one that was broken) and lots of hills. The trail blazes seemed very new and we didn't have too much trouble staying on the trail. After a while, Lonnie told me that we could stop whenever I wanted to. I was afraid I was looking pretty ragged, but I didn't want him to think I was a chicken or sissy, so I plodded on. After all, this guy is ex-military, he still runs every day--He could leave me in the dust if he wanted to (or so I thought).
Finally, we hit a road. We estimated that we had walked about 4-5 miles at that point. The trail crossed the road, but we decided that we should turn back instead since we'd have to retrace our steps to get back to the Jeep. About halfway back, we began taking 5 minute breaks at the top of the steep hills. I was getting tired, but was okay. It was nearing lunch time, so my energy reserves had long since been tapped. Lonnie on the other hand was on the ground. At the top of the hills, we'd stop for a 5 minute water break. Then it got to the point that Lonnie wanted to stop at the bottom AND the top for a 5 minute water break. Then he wanted to stop at the top, the bottom AND THE MIDDLE!!! I began to see that all those times he told me we could stop whenever I wanted--he was begging me to turn around!!
To make matters worse, on the way back, we got in a pretty heavy rain. It didn't last long, but still... Being a rookie hiker, I had no hiking shoes, so I wore old tennis shoes. Because we'd had so much rain, my feet were wet by 30 minutes into our hike. By the time we walked 4-1/2 hours, my feet were drenched. I decided right then and there, before I hiked again, I'd get appropriate footwear (after all, who needs an excuse to get a new pair of shoes).
But back to my story...By the time we got back to the Jeep, I was afraid Lonnie would never hike with me again! He had dark circles under his eyes and wasn't moving as quickly.
We drove back to Lonnie's house to get my truck and I headed home. I slept good that night. We estimated that we hiked (not walked--HIKED) 8-10 miles that day. I got one picture of my hike. Keep in mind that this is after hiking a great distance and being rained on. It is not a pretty sight!! :) With my bandana (too keep my hair out of my face) and my camouflage pants (because they shed water easily and are breathable) Lonnie told me I looked like a South American guerilla. He has called me Poncho Villa a couple times too!
Lonnie's wife told me the following Sunday that when she got home, Lonnie was collapsed in the chair and looked pretty rough. She said he didn't move for the rest of the evening. She got a good kick out of him! Lonnie, Carol, Dave and I have since had several good laughs about our hiking trip. Dave and Carol aren't about to go with us, but don't mind laughing at our escapades.
Lonnie and I have planned to hike the second part of the trail this Thursday. I'm still debating whether to take Trevor. He needs the exercise and is really good, but that means I have to bring water for him too (that's extra weight). I'll probably take him anyway.
I wasn't kidding about that footwear thing either. Today, Leslie and I were in Hattiesburg and were going right near one of the outdoor stores. I talked her into going in and looking at hiking shoes with me (it wasn't hard--she's very outdoorsy).
Aside #2: Leslie has these sandals that she wears practically every day. I had never heard of this brand until I met her. They are Chacos. I'm sure all of you readers have heard of them before and I'm just shoe-sheltered or something. She has always told me that they are the most comfortable shoes/sandals.We went into the store and I told the sales guy that I was looking for hiking shoes. He first showed me hiking boots. I didn't want boots though. They get too heavy after a while and I'm not hiking the Appalachian Trail or anything anyway. So then he showed me hiking shoes (much like tennis shoes). I really wanted something that would keep me from walking around in wet shoes again though. Leslie said, "Then get Chacos". I didn't think that sandals would be a good option for hiking, but Leslie, the sales guy and (per Leslie) her sister all hike in their Chacos. So I relented. They will be a great way to keep my feet from having to be cooped up in wet shoes. Here are my new hiking shoes. I plan on wearing them all night tonight and then after clinical for the next couple of days. Hopefully by then I'll be okay to hike in them. Leslie and the sales guy both thought it would.
Stay tuned for Tales From the Hike: Part II.
