Week 15: Home, sweet, MA

Weekly Mileage

Our feet took us 106 miles this week

Video of the Week

I was totally unplugged this week and only took a few video clips. Look forward to an epic video next week!

Highlights

We went home for a long weekend! It was amazing to sleep in my bed, get clean (like actually clean), and eat out of a refrigerator. I got to see my favorite people and it was perfect. I got to see my second set of parents (Mr. and Mrs. Wilson) for dinner at their house with my parents, my adorable grandfather, my brother and his roommates, and our family friends the Bukkhegyis. I was reunited with my soul sister, Marissa, and got even more excited about our next adventure together- teaching English in Thailand! My childhood best friend Courtney even came down from Maine to grab drinks with me! I was thrilled to visit the babies (now toddlers) I babysat last year and was so happy to catch up with their amazing mommies. I enjoyed the beach with some of my favorite boys and ate fried clams after with my Mom. Lastly, Danielle and I missed each other too much so we grabbed brunch on Sunday with our fav, Marissa.

Mt. Greylock is the tallest mountain in Massachusetts. We slept in Thunderbolt Shelter, which is on the summit and "for emergency use only". It was late when we got to the top, so the kind lady in the lodge gave us the go-ahead for sleeping in the forbidden shelter. We got to enjoy the most beautiful sunrise!

Trail Magic

After Mt. Greylock, Danielle and I stopped into North Adams, MA for breakfast. The town provides bikes for hikers so they can explore the area. It was SO fun to ride a bike. We were flying. My legs were so happy they didn't have to walk all the way to Rene's Diner. 

Just a few days after returning to the trail, my Mom drove out to western MA with my cousin, who was visiting from Georgia. We went out to lunch and she slack packed us over a mountain. Every little bit helps and I was happy my cousin could experience trail life!

Bummers

Inevitably, it was really hard getting back to the trail after a lovely weekend home. It was so comfortable and easy being home. Although I slept more than I do on the trail, I was still sore, swollen, and tired upon returning to the trail. It's almost as if time off from the trail did more damage than hiking on! The first day back was a struggle, but we quickly adjusted back to trail life.

As fun as it was being home, it was also somewhat stressful. Being home was a reality check that life continues after the trail and I will need to get a job/apply to medical school/figure out my life/enter the "real world". If anyone knows how I can get paid to adventure forever, please let me know.