SPOILT IN SALEM
PCT DAYS 102-104: Rest days 12-14
Sunday , 24 July 2016- Tuesday July 26, 2016: Zero trail miles
Grounded for now.
It seems odd to be referring to this post as PCT days because we were well and truly off the PCT. But in my mind we were still connected to the trail and the separation seemed temporary. For Hammer it is temporary but for me it will be rest days for some time to come. The reality of us separating is only now beginning to fully sink in as the day of Hammers departure for the trail has arrived .
Since seeing the orthopeadic specialist and leaving Ashland we have been graciously hosted by Jim and his family in Salem. It has given us some space and time to make plans for the next 6-7 weeks or so that Hammer will take to complete the Oregon and Washington sections of the PCT. We hiked with Jim in the desert and he too will go back on trail this week to complete a couple of sections in California.
Jims son Spencer and Hammer manning the pizza oven for Jims birthday celebrations.
We have been thoroughly spoilt in Salem getting out to see the local sights, enjoying some great food and just resting. We are grateful to Jim and his family for sharing the comforts of their home while we were in this unplanned transition. It has certainly made it easier to accept and we are now ready to tackle the next stage.
I will continue keeping this blog with Hammers despatches from the trail when I receive them.
Hammer is ready to get back on trail looking less like a homeless guy.
Hello, Corky. It’s good to know that you are being looked after and allowed comforts in your situation so far from home. It is just bitterly disappointing that you are going to miss so much of the adventure ahead on the PCT, and I will greatly miss the beauty, grand and small, of your photography and captivating accounting of events and impressions. Dadgumit! as might be said by some along the trail… 😉
It turns out that Light Feather and I met up in Ashland last Wednesday (7/20) and hoped to run into you and Hammer at Callahan’s, where we stayed that day, but, of course you needed to be close to medical attention and were in town, we found out. We camped near Ashland the next day and I returned to Capitola on Friday and she ran a 50 miler in Ashland on Saturday, finishing the race easily. She leaves for France and Mont Blanc on Monday- a month there…
I only work two days a week, so, I have plenty of time if I can assist you and/or Hammer in any way. I’m very experienced in preparing re-supply boxes, for example, and you can depend on me to follow through.
Best wishes,
Larry
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So close Larry,
shame we could not see Light Feather and you when in Ashland. With UTMB so close wish Light Feather all the best from us. Thank you for your kind offer. Hammer has enough food to get to Washington and back, now that he is eating for 2 :-).
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I know you must be feeling sad as Hammer departs for the trail. He will walk lighter now that he has less hair! Looking forward to your continued posts, even if they are somewhat altered by your distance from the trail! xo
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Thank you Leslie. It feels rather strange.
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The hairdresser looks a bit apprehensive. That might be an omen. I wish you both good luck in your solo adventures. Remember what Jacque Cousteau said “A man alone is in bad company”. But then again when you are alone you have the answer to every question. So Bon Chance to both of you. We are all looking forward to reading about “what Corky did next…” And the “Hammer time dispatches”
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Thank you for your kind wishes. Poor hairdresser, it was a big job to tidy up 3 months of neglect.
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