Technically the day isn’t over yet. This is the first time I’m writing a post while still in it — though I don’t expect much more to happen tonight.
The day started wet. As I mentioned yesterday, I was up early but had to wait for everything to dry before I could pack. The mosquito net held up perfectly — no issues there. If I’d known about the creek, I’d have used my emergency foil bivvy. Waterproof, weighs almost nothing — I carry it for rainstorms and genuine emergencies. Instead I had a slow breakfast.
I’d run out of oats. The hiker nearby had some — we traded: her oats for my chopped dates. A good deal from my side. After that I sat around reading, waiting for the sun to come up and dry everything out.
Later in the morning I started walking and made it to a small town after about 8 miles. There’s a community centre there that’s genuinely impressive — public showers built together from all kinds of parts. Great pressure, hot water, large moveable showerheads. A hook to hang a towel would help, but otherwise excellent.
I’d have liked to keep walking the same day, but my power bank was completely flat and took forever to charge. So I used the time and hand-washed my second set of clothes. I don’t carry much — one extra t-shirt and one extra set of underwear, worn in rotation. My long-sleeved layer got washed too. It’s all hanging on the washing line now, drying.
By the time I left town it was already getting dark. Just outside the village — unfortunately near another creek — there’s a spot to pitch a tent. That’s when I noticed my tent stakes were gone. No idea where. Fortunately my tent is freestanding, and there’s no wind tonight.
I walked back to the community centre hoping I’d dropped them while unpacking my laundry. No luck. I’m hoping someone finds them and brings them in. If not, I’ll need to replace them — which shouldn’t be hard, they’re sold in most outdoor shops. My best guess is I left them at the cowboy camp by the creek the night before and didn’t check carefully enough when I packed up.
On the way back to camp I ran — in the dark, with my phone torch — partly because I felt like it, partly because it was faster. Strange feeling, running again after two weeks of walking. And without a pack.
Now I’m setting up the tent. Without stakes. There’s a creek nearby again, but after last night I know better.
