Just One More Victory - Page 37

dagolfer33 · #**721** 11-25-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

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.

clyde · #**722** 11-25-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

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

Thanks so much.

I think I did go through Costa Rica!!

clyde · #**723** 11-25-2010, 01:44 PM

I just thought of somethng.

Not very far fetched to say she is young enough/I am old enough to be Arletta's Father,too.

Forgot how embarassing that must be to her.

Arletta, I'll make it up to you...somehow.

There must be a way.

But I don't think there is.

clyde · #**724** 11-25-2010, 04:50 PM

And now Clydey loses.

{{{{{{ BIG}}}}}}} i-net phooey.

dagolfer33 · #**725** 11-25-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyde

And now Clydey loses.

{{{{{{ BIG}}}}}}} i-net phooey.

???

clyde · #**726** 11-25-2010, 05:09 PM

Scenic Blast out in Hollywood..that's his nickname.

The jockey held him back at the start and I would like to know why.

Probably he knew I had him to win.

clyde · #**727** 11-25-2010, 05:37 PM

By the way, I am scheduled for another hikey-poo tomorrow at 2.This is in the Penninsula are...some 20 miles from here.3.3 miler.

That is if the Witch in charge doesn't ban me tonight.She already vaporized several of my comments made last night and today.

My latest reply was a simple "touchy-touchy."

Which is probably all the encouragement she needs at this point.

dagolfer33 · #**728** 11-25-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyde

Scenic Blast out in Hollywood..that's his nickname.

The jockey held him back at the start and I would like to know why.

Probably he knew I had him to win.

I didn't know you were playing today, I coulda given you a horse at CD called Dundalk Dust.

clyde · #**729** 11-25-2010, 06:09 PM

I am an interesting ( if not thoroughly self absorbed ) poster---don't ya thank?

Here is an example of how I probably will get thrown off the 'team" in my very first "meet up." Too many sound like these two crazy people:

================================================== =

I love meeting new people of any kind and culture and I have traveled with strangers too. I am a member of counchsurfing.com ..if you guys know what this web site is about...The travels I did with strangers were mostly like just visiting cities, not hiking. However when I hike I like to hike with someone who is at the level as me. This because if a hiker doesn't have the same skills as me, it would make it hard for me to enjoy hiking. And I have a good exemple. Many years ago there was 4 of us, 2 girls, 2 guys going hiking on steep mountain for about 2 hours. The other lady showed up in high heels and skirt for this hike. I am not joking, 1.5 in heels. So every 30 feet or so we had to wait for her to "fix" her shoes. Well I know this doesn't happen everyday and most of the hikers are nice people and easy to get along, but I still to like to know their hiking level.
That's another reason I don't like to go hiking with old people or people who bring small kids.
I also like to hike with people I have some trust in, in case something happens to me, he/she "saves" me.
Another thing I look for is that he/she would have first aid skills.

I don't have any problem with dayhikes. In fact i believe a few short 5-8 mile hikes a month are very important to keep my endurance up. I generally like the long hikes. Usually mileage that will put you out in the backcountry. So I tend to stick with backpacking trips that put me around 20-30 miles a weekend. I like really getting out there, stealth camping, purifying water, all the cool stuff. I have no problem walking in a metropark but my addiction has grown beyond that.

================================================== ====
These are very disturbed people.

clyde · #**730** 11-25-2010, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

I didn't know you were playing today, I coulda given you a horse at CD called Dundalk Dust.

Did he win?

dagolfer33 · #**731** 11-25-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyde

Did he win?

Yea he won, pd. $14.80, $7.80. Not a mountain of moolah, but this one made a strong run down the stretch @ HAW a couple of weeks ago to beat me and I thought he might do well @ CD.

clyde · #**732** 11-25-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagolfer33

Yea he won, pd. $14.80, $7.80. Not a mountain of moolah, but this one made a strong run down the stretch @ HAW a couple of weeks ago to beat me and I thought he might do well @ CD.

Ya well I'd take it!!

Thanks for the thought,, reall,really.

There's always a next time.

Fine work, really was.