Back in Eugene
Just a short update on my travels since my last post. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Harrison waiting for my Thursday flight out to Dallas. It obligingly rained cats and dogs late Tuesday all the way through Thursday morning. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 inches total. So good call on not attempting to finish the trail.
Thursday morning arrived and as I left the motel to walk the mile out to the airport, but seeing another guest, in the parking lot, I asked if he was going to the airport. He said no, but he and his wife and their friend could take me. Really nice group of folks from Alaska. They dropped me off at the the Boone County Airport and I walked into the terminal.
The gate agent who was also a baggage handler and plane guide with the red flashlights, weighed my bag and asked my weight. When all 8 passengers were assembled, the co-pilot gave us a safety talk and walked us out to the plane where he assigned us seats based on our weight.
We boarded the 12 seater single turboprop Cessna along with the co-pilot. After the check list was completed, the pilot taxied out and took off at 6:35AM, right on time. We flew at 6,000 feet going 220 mph. Two hours later, after a smooth flight, we put down at DFW. We grabbed our bags and were shuttled to the main terminal where we had to check in again. Eventually I got my flight out to Albuquerque, getting in at 5:30PM.
I have been staying with Cappuccino, doing some local hiking, eating, and resting. We went hiking in the Sandia Mountains with Cappuccino’s friend, Polly. Always a good time. I was also able to have dinner with Level and Cappuccino’s husband, Scott. Yesterday I boarded my 6AM flight and made it back home at 10:15AM.
So I am back home with about 3 weeks to get ready for the Buckeye Trail in Ohio. This will be a completely different kind of trail than the OHT. Many miles of rural roads, farmland, and scattered parks. There is an old barge tow path from the 1800s that is now a hike/bike trail that will be the most wilderness like segment. I already have reservations at multiple motels, as camping spots are far between. I plan to try and appreciate the ambience of the trail, towns, and historic sites that I pass through.
So, along with some projects around the house, I will be washing the poison ivy oils out of my gear and getting my kit together for this somewhat more urban 250 mile trek.
I plan to post on the next three Sundays and then daily after that as I start the trail.
Until then, take care and Happy Trails!
Jill and I saw the storms headed to the midwest. Golf sized hail in some areas. Glad you finished.
Yeah, I am glad I was in a motel room for the brunt of that storm, although in Harrison it was mostly rain and plenty of it. We did get some small hail, wind, and lightning, but I think the storm lost a lot of its fury before it reached us.
Let me say that that was one small airplane. Your courage knows no bounds. Hiking with wet gear is rarely a good time. Ah maturity! Tell me, does the Buckeye Trail go through Wooster, a little burg between Akron and Columbus? Hannah and I met there on the campus of the College of Wooster nearly 60 years ago!
Hey Dan, it was a small aircraft, but “fools rush in…” as they say. And hiking wet was not my major concern, rather drowning at one of the six major fords required to finish the trail was.
I will be about 25 miles east of Wooster at the southern most point on the Buckeye Trail loop I’m doing. So close, but not through. Congratulations on your long partnership with Hannah. Nancy and I are at 55 years together in Nov. this year.