As the old saying goes, 37.8 miles forward, 1 step back. Or something like that.
Since the lengthy 2.5-day break I took from hiking to ease the pain in my right foot, I have logged 37.8 miles. As a result, the pain in my heel is back to where it was 12 days ago. So not only can you not cure stupid, you also cannot cure plantar fasciitis by resting for 2.5 days and jumping right back into woodsy lumbering.
It’s not all bad, though; this week’s weather has been much cooler, and I got out Monday and Tuesday for back-to-back 6+ mile lumbers and only wanted to commit hari-kari with a trekking pole two or three times due to the pain. And once was when I stepped on a rock at just the right angle, and it sent a wave of pain from my heel to my nether regions and back again, which then triggered the brief urges of culturally appropriated suicide. ArigatÅ.
As mentioned previously, I KNOW I need to rest my foot along with the stretching, icing, and heavy drinking and massaging, but at this point, I only have 130 miles to hit 1,000 miles which I plan on hitting despite the pain; THEN we can talk more seriously about a lengthy rest. Of course, my heel tendons might blow off my foot like a camper wheel along 127 by then, and I can rest in the Emergency Room. What can I say? I’m stubborn. And a moron.
One last note before I gingerly walk off to mow the grass of the Cul-De-Sack-Shack’s vast (not really) estate…
On Tuesday, I was pushing hard to complete my 2nd 6-mile hike in a row, and I needed an extra half mile to get there. So, I tacked on a small loop that took me along the river and back to the parking lot trailhead.
As I approached a corner, I saw a turtle doing turtle stuff with her eggs in the sand. I took a few shots and then moved on. I took roughly another five steps and saw a fox scurrying into some trailside brush. It seems I may have disturbed someone’s turtle egg brunch, at least for a moment or two. Nature is fantastic but can also be cruel at times.
Oh, Foxy…
Later.