Surprise Arrival
From Wanderlust-Journal.com:
A Travel Essay by Timothy Loftus.
Two quart-size containers of water, one for drinking on the move, the other for tea when I take a break.
Tea (of course!).
Backpacking stove, fuel, titanium pot, tea mug.
Apple.
Flask with a dram of Irish whiskey.
Notebook and mechanical pencils (black plastic body with a yellow pocket clip).
Wide-brim hat to keep the sun off my face. (I know of too many people who have had patches of skin cancer removed. I don’t want to look like an old boxer whose nose looks like a kindergartener molded a new one out of clay in art class. Or have my ears look like the dog used them as chew-toys).
Hiking boots, double knotted.
I’m ready, I think. Check again. Then one more time.
*
This fine early October morning in 2023, I park my car in the gravel lot opposite Buck Hill Pond in northern Spencer, Massachusetts, hoist my knapsack onto my back, then leave my boot prints on the trail along the south shoreline before it turns northwards. In another quarter mile, I will come to a trail junction. Then I will decide which way to go, as I will at every trail junction during today’s coddiwomple…
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Thanks, Brianna and Sarah
If you are looking for a developmental editor, check out how I can help your writing become what you aim for, building upon your skills and showing you patterns that might or might not like to continue using…Having a professional reader/editor work with you can make all the difference.
Let me know if you have any questions, cheers. Sarah
Donations really help. Wanderlust Journal is a free online resource for publishing and reading travel essays and photo-stories. Same for Substack. Pretty much for everything I do…! It’s lucky I live in a little caravan (Travel trailer to you) and enjoy nature more than shopping. Anyway, even if you can only give a little, it helps me do what I’m committed to doing, ever since a teenager, and that is documenting other lifestyles, cultures, experiences. Think of these projects next time you are able to give a little, thank you.
If you'd like to hear more hiking stories, listen in to the podcast. We had an episode that had a range of excerpts today with a kayak from California to Hawaii, a solo biker in Iran, a couple of fellas in boxers, and more! Yes, a fun selection. We only do podcasts when we have something to share so don't worry if you subscribe that you'll be overwhelmed. You won't!
Thank you for reading! Let me know if you have a story to share. Cheers, Sarah xxx