Just One More Victory

[dagolfer33]

Originally Posted by clyde

MY MOST EXCELLENT HIKING ADVENTURE!!!!




I remember this was not my first meet up.I did go to one other in downtown Cleveland...and no one was there.So this makes the 2nd meet up I haven't met up...with anyone.

I should mention...on that first one.It was a street fair so I wound up yakking with this street magician who was really good.Younger guy, around 32ish ...I would say.He talked about how he had lost his job...his wife left him---oh boy.I had to cut that one short and wished him the best.So it was warm and I was thirsty.I ducked into a bar and they had ice cold Strohs in a can.SSSO good.



Only one problem.

The magician had stolen my wallet.

The fucl<er.



Back to today.

It was cancelled ,but at least one person said they were going anyway.Well, when I got to the lodge, the meeting point, no one was there.It was drizzling and cold.I had caught some sort of congestive thing and could have felt better, but knew I could hack my way through.I saw a post marking the start of the trail.My keen woodsman sense told me this must be the start of the trail...so I started.

I started well...clipping right along the filthy trail.Then,it became a little precarious as I hiked deeper---and deeper. The raging Chagrin River was raging below,swollen from the nights rains.It was about 100 feet down.The trail was leaf ladden and tree root intruded...and wet.

And about 2 feet from the edge of that 100 foot straight drop to that raging river.


I recalled how alone I was.

I started to imagine slipping.

I began to scare myself.



And there was no one there to hold me!!









MOMMY!!!!






I had to stop and get a hold of myself.....figuretively.

Then after regaining control...I forged on.

After about 1 mile, the filthy narrow trail morphed into a wide ,stone bridal path.Maybe around 8 feet wide.Then it began twisting upward...very steep...very long!! At the tippy toppy of the 3rd ridiculously steep and very long ascent,I slowed my fast pace to a slow one and left......oh,I'd say at least a third of one lung;at the top.

Down I came to a river crossing.Still raging, by the way.And I guess a horsey may have crossed --if he was nuts.I looked around and found the ubiquitous fallen tree 'cross the raging river.Now, on top of this dilemma---there was a band of renegade squirrels at the top of trail from where I had just descended.

I didn't have much choice.

Reports of late had talked about these vicious beasts ,their lust for human blood and their crazed pack attack mentality.They could grease an adult human faster than a fat girl snuffing a plate of cheese n' taters at a sporty bar.


So there I was, walking along this fallen tree, soaked with slipperyness...high above the raging river....at least...oh, 2 maybe 3 feet below.One false step---and 4- get me.

But I made it.




I had been following the guide posts well....until I came to a fork in the trail.

Guess what?

No guide posts.



Fucl< me.





I knew what Frost would do, but I followed his advise once before and found out what an idiot he was.

I couldn't really tell which was more traveled anyhow----so I went righty.




On I went UP and down...UP and down....winding,winding,winding.


Another fork---another no post--- another righty.






I had no idea where the fucl< I was.And I was alone!! That fear set in again...deep...cold....primal.



















aaahhhhh!!!!











I had to hold myself for a while, then I was all bettah again.




OOOOOOON I went.






Another river crossing...another ubiquitous fallen tree...and now a swarthy gang of raccoon banditos were fast on my scent.

Another dangerous yet successful crossing.


I finally came to a sign of civilization.I knew it was Miles Road...and that's where I turned into the lodge...about one half mile from this spot.But again the trail failed me---fading into a marshlands with nowhere to go but through it to reach the road.So I did.



And so my little hiking feet are now immersed in water...inside my "impermeable" little hiking boots.What a disgusting and radical mess.

I got to Miles and hiked the last half mile ( uphill, by the way) back to the lodge.

I'd been gone one hour and ten minutes.Knowing too well how fast I can run and walk,I judged my trek to have been more like 4.3 miles instead of the scheduled 5.3.




I really didn't care; I wasn't going back for make up work.











So here I sit with double pneumonia setting in ( if I'm lucky),but nothing will stop me from leaving here at 3 to get a taste of Clydey's run today.





Not even that gang of raccoon banditos waiting for me outside.

Great story! Very remeniscent of my travails thru Costa Rica. Except replace the coons with iguanas.