12 miles today. Total miles so far: 111.5.
We were up and going early so Jeff could make the long drive home. He dropped me off at the trailhead, and I shouldered the big, heavy pack. He headed home to our cat, and I headed into the woods on the Tuscobia trail, crossing 100 miles not long after Jeff left. Between the blister and the heavy pack, I planned a short day into Birchwood. There was no time pressure today, and I took lots of breaks, including one in Brill with real bathrooms. The Tuscobia is softer than Gandy Dancer, and my decision to bring the chair despite its weight seems to be a good one since it makes breaks easier. There was a rare blowdown on the trail, and I used it as a convenient rest spot for a while. I don't relish going off trail, but the extra mile to Birchwood was a good decision, and a spur trail made it easier than a road walk, though it was mostly in a ditch next to the road. I had an excellent burger before checking into my comfy but costly motel, getting chocolate milk and snacks from a nearby store, and going to bed well before 8.
