Fallout
I was going to call this entry "Lunch" and start off with "That's what I had After Math, Lunch. Get it? AFTERMATH?". But it thought that'd be a bit too obtuse.
The flight back from Manchester UK to Chicago US was just fine. Lots of fidgeting in the seat, moving feet and legs in search of comfort, and occasional dozing under (say it with me now) eye-patch and ear plugs. I bought my backpack and kit over in a duffel, which I then discarded, but for the trip back simply bound it all together with the 'emergency' 20 feet of parachute cord I'd carried. Made a fairly tidy little bundle and did hold both hiking poles in tight and make a nice hand hold for the bag smashers, ah, baggage loaders.
Clearing US Customs in ORD was interesting. The form specifically asks if you've been to a farm or pasture and they announced on loudspeaker to contact the agricultural inspector if you had been. They are rightfully concerned about bringing a bad disease back, like hoof and mouth (foot and mouth), and want to clean your hiking shoes with chlorine; which they did. What they did not do, and I didn't take the time to point it out as I had a flight to catch, for crying out loud, was clean the bottoms of my hiking pole baskets, nor the ground cloth for my tent! Merde!I believe the French say.
I did make my flight, and so did my bag, in time to sit through a tornado warning out on the runway holdshort area. HEAVY winds and HEAVY rains. Major damage reported in the ORD area. The delay put my return journey into the 12 hour range, and I would gladly have gone back to my sister's home, but they were without power, many trees toppled, and besides they'd just returned from a cruise and I'd have to sit through all their photos and look at their tans.
When I got home, this is what was left of my feet.
Some of this is 'normal' post walk swelling. My hiking friends tell me that it is fairly common to have some swelling when you go from 15miles a day to 0. The fluids just don't know what to do right away. My swelling was aggravated by the sprains and pains and 12hour planes (ooooh a rhyme!). I did go to the podiatrist later and found that what I'd feared was a stress fracture was rather tendinitis on the top of my right foot. The major tendon down to your big toe is the one that lifts your forefoot up when you walk, but as you grow tired (after, say, 16 and 20 miles days), the other four little tendons try to help out, get inflamed and then rub against the bottom of your shoe tongue under the laces, which then feel like piano wire chaffing the tendon sheath. Wasn't going to improve the more I walked, obviously, so a pretty good idea to knock it off. 10 day steroid pack and I'm ready for the home run record, I mean, I'll be good a new.
Logistically and Planning wise the trip went brilliantly. I didn't loose anything, my accommodations were as planned, food was on track. Spending, as usual, was a little more than expected. So here are some points I jotted down 'for next time':
Good hi-top Gortex or waterproof boots
Non-zippered Gaiters
Pack Hydrator Bladder is good - but take a small waterbottle for making tea/coffee on the trail
Stop every 60 to 90 minutes for a rest, and a dedicated lunch period
Replenish calories along the way with Cliff bars (or other)
Do at least one 20-mile day per week in the month before the trip
Consider baggage porter service, at least through the Lake District - until you get your legs
Be flexible on which direction, how long and how far you walk in order to take advantage of good weather, new acquaintances, lovely towns.
Plan on 20L a day. 15 just won't cut it with 5L camping, 5L lunch, 10L dinner&beer, incidentals
ALWAYS take advantage of an available shower - before bed and in the morning too; you ever know when the next one will be.
GET GOOD 1:25,000 charts and LEARN AND PRACTICE ORIENTEERING
A GPS can be a great comfort - if the points are plotted
Use a hanging map case for the charts - looks dorky, but saves time while walking
Practice changing into/outof waterproofs and LS shirts - save time walking
Learn foot care - how to clip toenails, wrap a sprain, care for blisters
Shave your ankles, just in case you have to wrap them in tape
Change $ to L at a bank - the airport exchange rate is terrible and they still take a bite
Don't plan on recharging anything
Take some 'business' cards with email, maybe a photo, etc, to give to trail friends
Nice, soft, comfy sandals or croc's are a Godsend after 10 hours on the trail.
Sheep. Sheep Shit. Sheep pens. Sheep folds. Sheep flocks.
Stones. Rocks. Pebbles. Stone walls. Stone Houses. Stone Ruins. Stone Circles. Stone Buildings. Stone Bridges. Stone Bridleways.
Mist. Drizzle. Rain. Fog. Cloud. Moisture. Condensation. Humidity.
Old. Really Old. Really, Really, Old. Classic. Vintage. Antique. Dust.
"What should I do with this rock?"
"Ah, just put it over there, next to the others"
Someone (CLT) has already asked me if I'll do it again.
Rather like gazing into your wife's eyes and asking if she wants another baby - as they cut the umbilical cord.
Maybe later.
The flight back from Manchester UK to Chicago US was just fine. Lots of fidgeting in the seat, moving feet and legs in search of comfort, and occasional dozing under (say it with me now) eye-patch and ear plugs. I bought my backpack and kit over in a duffel, which I then discarded, but for the trip back simply bound it all together with the 'emergency' 20 feet of parachute cord I'd carried. Made a fairly tidy little bundle and did hold both hiking poles in tight and make a nice hand hold for the bag smashers, ah, baggage loaders.
Clearing US Customs in ORD was interesting. The form specifically asks if you've been to a farm or pasture and they announced on loudspeaker to contact the agricultural inspector if you had been. They are rightfully concerned about bringing a bad disease back, like hoof and mouth (foot and mouth), and want to clean your hiking shoes with chlorine; which they did. What they did not do, and I didn't take the time to point it out as I had a flight to catch, for crying out loud, was clean the bottoms of my hiking pole baskets, nor the ground cloth for my tent! Merde!I believe the French say.
I did make my flight, and so did my bag, in time to sit through a tornado warning out on the runway holdshort area. HEAVY winds and HEAVY rains. Major damage reported in the ORD area. The delay put my return journey into the 12 hour range, and I would gladly have gone back to my sister's home, but they were without power, many trees toppled, and besides they'd just returned from a cruise and I'd have to sit through all their photos and look at their tans.
When I got home, this is what was left of my feet.
Some of this is 'normal' post walk swelling. My hiking friends tell me that it is fairly common to have some swelling when you go from 15miles a day to 0. The fluids just don't know what to do right away. My swelling was aggravated by the sprains and pains and 12hour planes (ooooh a rhyme!). I did go to the podiatrist later and found that what I'd feared was a stress fracture was rather tendinitis on the top of my right foot. The major tendon down to your big toe is the one that lifts your forefoot up when you walk, but as you grow tired (after, say, 16 and 20 miles days), the other four little tendons try to help out, get inflamed and then rub against the bottom of your shoe tongue under the laces, which then feel like piano wire chaffing the tendon sheath. Wasn't going to improve the more I walked, obviously, so a pretty good idea to knock it off. 10 day steroid pack and I'm ready for the home run record, I mean, I'll be good a new.
Logistically and Planning wise the trip went brilliantly. I didn't loose anything, my accommodations were as planned, food was on track. Spending, as usual, was a little more than expected. So here are some points I jotted down 'for next time':
Good hi-top Gortex or waterproof boots
Non-zippered Gaiters
Pack Hydrator Bladder is good - but take a small waterbottle for making tea/coffee on the trail
Stop every 60 to 90 minutes for a rest, and a dedicated lunch period
Replenish calories along the way with Cliff bars (or other)
Do at least one 20-mile day per week in the month before the trip
Consider baggage porter service, at least through the Lake District - until you get your legs
Be flexible on which direction, how long and how far you walk in order to take advantage of good weather, new acquaintances, lovely towns.
Plan on 20L a day. 15 just won't cut it with 5L camping, 5L lunch, 10L dinner&beer, incidentals
ALWAYS take advantage of an available shower - before bed and in the morning too; you ever know when the next one will be.
GET GOOD 1:25,000 charts and LEARN AND PRACTICE ORIENTEERING
A GPS can be a great comfort - if the points are plotted
Use a hanging map case for the charts - looks dorky, but saves time while walking
Practice changing into/outof waterproofs and LS shirts - save time walking
Learn foot care - how to clip toenails, wrap a sprain, care for blisters
Shave your ankles, just in case you have to wrap them in tape
Change $ to L at a bank - the airport exchange rate is terrible and they still take a bite
Don't plan on recharging anything
Take some 'business' cards with email, maybe a photo, etc, to give to trail friends
Nice, soft, comfy sandals or croc's are a Godsend after 10 hours on the trail.
Sheep. Sheep Shit. Sheep pens. Sheep folds. Sheep flocks.
Stones. Rocks. Pebbles. Stone walls. Stone Houses. Stone Ruins. Stone Circles. Stone Buildings. Stone Bridges. Stone Bridleways.
Mist. Drizzle. Rain. Fog. Cloud. Moisture. Condensation. Humidity.
Old. Really Old. Really, Really, Old. Classic. Vintage. Antique. Dust.
"What should I do with this rock?"
"Ah, just put it over there, next to the others"
Someone (CLT) has already asked me if I'll do it again.
Rather like gazing into your wife's eyes and asking if she wants another baby - as they cut the umbilical cord.
Maybe later.
posted by Randy Masters at 6:19 AM
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