June 18, 2021 - Saturday morning
63 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

First off, let me once again say happy anniversary to my beautiful bride. The official day was yesterday, the 17th, but since this is the first entry I've made in several days, I'll say it again today.

I love you baby.

Macrea and I pulled into the drive Friday afternoon around 4 PM. We'd had a wonderful hike, one where mileage is still up in question. In three and a half days, we'd either put fifty seven or fifty two miles under our feet, not that it makes any big difference.

The trail held multiple surprises. First, we'd been told that it was flat with little elevation change. Someone lied.

We encountered multiple "PUDS", pointless up's and down's, that continually challenged us on the hottest day of our hike. We'd hike over the 1,500 ft mark, then go straight down, only to go up again. Switchbacks were few and far between, so it was a strenuous stretch of trail.

Water sources were also problematic. Presently in the middle of an early summer drought, many of the seasonal steams were already dried and even the creeks and rivers were running quite sluggish. 

 

At one point, we were forced to draw water from a beaver pond and after doing so, discovered several tadpoles in the CNOC bag we'd used to scoop water.

 

Macrea was a real trooper and in my book, earned a ton of "hiker cred." A non hiker by trade, I let him lead and set the pace. 

Sargie's youngest ran into some real foot problems early in the hike that he battled the entire way. There were several pullout points where he could have quit, but that was never an option for him. As he said, "I'm going to see this thing through," and he did. 

Macrea, as long distance hikers say, "Embraced the suck."

I couldn't be prouder of the boy.

I fared well throughout the hike. I'm having a lovefest with my tent and quilt. Using hiking poles rather than a frame, the tent assembles in a mere two or three minutes.

I'm not so in love with my pack, however. For whatever reason, I couldn't adjust the straps so that the 23 pounds was being carried on my hips. Rather, my shoulders burdened most the weight. 

It's not a big deal on a four day stroll, but certainly would be on one that lasts five to six months. I told Sargie last night that we'll venture to REI, a popular outdoor store that specializes in packs, tents, and everything hiking, and have a "packologist" measure and fit me and if nothing else, at least give me a lesson on pack adjustment.

The closest REI is almost three and a half hours away in Appleton, Wisconsin. Hmm, seems like a good enough excuse as any for an overnighter with my bride.

Otherwise, my body, feet, and mind, performed flawlessly. My tootsies and dogs remained blister free, knee, ankle, hip, and back, aches and pains were nonexistent, and I tackled the PUDS with a minimum amount of effort. Assuming I keep up the training and walking, I believe I'll be ready to tackle the AT beginning next February. 

We finally walked into the trailhead parking lot (the finish line for us) before noon yesterday. Macrea saw his car through the bushes and took off like a thirsty horse to water. I couldn't keep up with the boy.

I made a daily video and even that was a learning experience on the trail. There were one or two times that I could have probably uploaded an entire video, usually while high on a ridge that afforded a minimal amount of service, but didn't want to take the half an hour away from hiking. The one night I could have done the same, I was simply too tired. I'll be putting four videos on over the next four days, probably the same as I'll be doing on the AT next year, uploading them in sequence as I come to trail towns with good internet service. Meanwhile, you can always go to my blog youtube page, Pentoga Road, and see any "shorts," fifteen second videos that I uploaded while on the Superior Hiking Trail. Day One video will be at the very bottom of today's entry.

Sargie was a sight for sore eyes yesterday afternoon. Not letting any grass grow under her feet, she'd mowed the property while I was gone, traveled to Escanaba one day with sister, Nancy, and even attended two of Hambone's away soccer games.

Last evening was a short one. I showered and we toured the garden, but otherwise, it was lights out for this old hiker. Needless to say, sleeping between clean sheets while snuggled next to my Sargie, well, life just doesn't get any better.

On today's agenda is to pick honeyberries. Our first fresh fruit of the season is ripe and ready to harvest.

As Dad would have said, "We'll be in high cotton," for the next week or two plucking fat, juicy, berries and popping them into our mouths each time we walk by one of the three bushes.

Otherwise, both tents have to be set back up and sprayed clean. The sleeping bags and quilt need to hang on the line and air out, and all the hiking equipment stowed away until it's needed again.

Don't go away after the last picture below. A video will follow.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...