Monday, Aug 17

Temperature: High 69°F / Low 65°F

Conditions: Overcast

Distance Walked: 25k

Experiences of the Day

Therese and her new friend, Flint, got a ride out to Elliott's General Store with Alan. She just adored her new furry friend!

Dave shuttled us from the motel back to the New Zealand trailhead. Although the four of us left on the trail together, after about an hour and a half, they all decided to listen to their audiobooks. That was my cue to pick up the pace as I wanted to minimize the amount of time I was on my feet today. After I got out of ear shot. I turned my own audiobook on my phone speaker (I'm listening to Anne's House of Dreams by LM Montgomery). I miss the old days before technology when people used to talk when they hiked.

Meanwhile, I was distracted on the trail looking at a sign about an upcoming race. It was near what looked like a memorial site. I stepped on something squishy. Yuck. Thinking that it was fox poop, I looked down to see what I had stepped in...oh my gosh, it was a snake!!!! About as thick as my thumb and roughly 18" long, it twisted and slithered away, clearly as disturbed as I was. I didn't even scream, which is very unusual for me.

Made a quick stop at the Elmira Railroad Museum before heading back to the motel where I relaxed most of the afternoon and then sauntered over to the restaurant for for pan-fried haddock.