I woke up Monday morning to light rain drops. I hopped up quick and began taking the tent down so I wouldn't be caught in a down pour. We move through the forest headed to Shawnee where I was hoping there was a grocery store since there wasn't one in Murray City. I still needed dog food. Through the forest, a clearing, I passed techumsa (sp) lake and headed into Shawnee.
Sadly, no grocery store there either. However, in town is the Harrop House, an office for the Buckeye Trail. I headed in to say hello. I was greeted by Andrew, who invited me in and told me to relax, I was happy to. I inquired about the closest place to buy dog food and he told me it was off the trail and out of the way. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. Andrew then offered to go and get dog food for me. Awesome! I was so happy. While there he also grabbed us lunch and got me an ice cream cone. Trail angel! After updating my blog and reviewing maps, there was a break in the rain so I decided to head out.
An hour later it downpoured. Like an afternoon thunderstorm in Florida. It reminded me of home. Except I was miles deep into the forest. When it rains, you just have to roll with it. I kept on moving. I reached a campground, while still early in the day, there was a break in the heaviness of the rain, so I decided to set the tent up and stay. This is a campground for horses, the only shelter were several horse stalls. I couldn't bring myself to camp in one so I set up outside the stall. I took my clothes off and hanged them to dry in the tent. With the water evaporating into condensation sticking to the inside of the tent and rain beating down on the outside of the tent, it's impossible to get dry. Imagine showering and the only thing you have to dry off with is a wet towel. I stayed in the tent wasting cell phone battery.
Tuesday morning I waited until ten to get up in hopes the tent would dry off. No such luck. I packed up my wet tent and hanged everything to dry on the horse stall. Finally we got moving, headed for Lake Logan State Park. A twenty three mile goal through the forest. Almost there I decided to hop off the trail and head into Logan, Ohio for supplies. I was out of breakfasts and snack packs. By the time I got to town, I was beat and decided to go to bed and hit up Walmart in the morning.
Wednesday morning I woke up and headed to Walmart. While shopping a man asked me if I had fallen into a pile of shit? Because I smelt awful. I kindly said no, I've been hiking for a month. He replied with, you couldn't have taken a shower before you came here today. I said no and continued shopping. I wanted to remind him that while a shower is a simple standard of living in his world, to many it's a luxury. He had a child with him and I didn't want to school an adult at Walmart. I got my groceries and headed to a nearby visitor center to load up my pack.
A few days prior I was contacted by Sean, a local man who is also a hiker. He offered a place to stay, shower and do my laundry. I took him up on that offer. According to the man at Walmart, I needed to. Sean and Amy picked me up at the visitor center next to Lake Logan State Park and gave me a ride back to their place. We had subs for lunch, tacos for dinner and I was able to get that shower I badly needed. We explored his property a bit, there's a really cool cave behind his house, he's got chickens and three adorable pups. Amy had just rescued some baby squirrels, they hadn't even opened their eyes yet!
Anyways I'm crashing on their couch tonight then headed to Hocking Hills State Park in the morning.
Thank you Andrew, Sean and Amy for the kindness you showed me the past few days. Thank you readers for being you.
"This is where you’re passionate of seasons and their strength and this is where you breathe and walk and know they will end. Light is turning slowly to the hand upon your chest
so lay it on the plains where there is time, there is love, there is rest"