Orange is my favorite color.

Monday, June 1, 2020

In April I decided to challenge myself and hike 100 miles in May. This challenge was sponsored by the north country trail association. How hard could it be? I figured if I hiked 3 or 4 miles a day I could make it. Besides I wanted motivation to stay healthy now that the gym is closed and I can't go there. My motivation was high in April. On May 1st I hiked only one measly mile. The rain was coming down hard that day. Over the month I hiked more each day to make up for May 1st. By May 24th I surpassed the 100 mile mark. I met my goal a week early. In fact I hiked a total of 137.3 miles in May which averages out to 4.43 miles a day. Many of those miles have been on side walks or paved trails. I had a set back regarding the trail situation on May 27th when I hiked so many miles on the Superior Hiking Trail. I came home and threw my clothes in the laundry basket and thereby infested my dwelling with wood ticks. I would find them crawling up walls and across the floors. I guess the lining of those pants or the pockets of those pants were crawling with ticks. Frankly the wood tick scenario was creeping me out. It's been five days ago yet I found and killed 23 wood ticks today. As soon as I go a full day without finding a wood tick in the house I will go back and try the hiking trail again. Also, as soon as I get home I will put all my hiking clothes through the wash immediately and not reinfest my dwelling. I had some repellent with DEET but today I bought another brand with permethryn. If I use both I should have better luck. I have never had this many wood ticks at one time in my life. Also, when I go in my car which isn't all that often now the wood ticks who left my body in there crawl up on me. I pick them off and throw them out the sunroof. Paved trails can be beautiful too. Here are some photos to prove that point.