(or chaos and control)
Off trail, I like to be in control. I like my schedule to be packed with meaningful activities from waking up to going to sleep. I like my stuff organized; I'm perpetually downsizing. I like my systems, my routines. I don't understand when other people can't prioritize tasks. I have them listed in order of importance!
On trail, I'm much more go- with- the -flow. I have rough itineraries. I don't have spreadsheets for mileage or base weight or calories consumed. I tend to listen to my body and adjust my plans accordingly.
It it usually takes me a week or two to transition between Heather and Pink Lady.
As as I headed to the airport Monday, August 1st, it was with several lists prioritized iny head. My storage unit was organized and neat. All my bills were paid in advance. I had not only a rough hiking itinerary, but a schedule of Olympic events and a plan to spend town time watching my favorite sports. I had my plane ticket to Portland, my train ticket to Klamath Falls, my hotel reservation, and my shuttle ticket to Crater Lake all printed out. I had a number of books loaded on my iPad. I was set!
The universe had other plans. And I was about to transition to Pink Lady quite quickly.
It all started when I discovered that curbside checking was not going on. Everyone had to go inside to check bags, and inside was absolute chaos! The lines were long and windy- there were constant announcements for people to identify themselves if they were on flights leaving soon. (Not for my flight, though. Not once for my flight) And there were lots of people with multiple oversized bags. On top of which, I had a backpack that was inside a trash bag and duct taped liberally. So I had to pick the whole thing up like a large toddler every time the line moved. Not what I had planned.
I finally made made it through bag check and security and cut it as close as I ever had to missing a flight. I was the LAST person on the plane. But I was in my seat when the plane took off, so I called that a victory.
You know what wasn't on the plane? My garbage bagged, duct tapped, toddler-like backpack! I found that out in Portland. Not what I had planned.
After filling out forms and giving baggage my hotel address and exchanging phone numbers and vouchers for travel, I was back on task. Since I had researched Portland's public transportation beforehand, I was at the Amtrak station in no time. And since I had also researched directions for the closest REI to Amtrak beforehand, I had a fuel canister in no time. Actually, this part of my day was probably EASIER without the backpack. But it wasn't what I had planned.
After that, I had to eat because I was beyond hangry and getting into lethargic-from-hunger territory. There was a restaurant next to the train station. A bit more upscale than the Subway or burger joint I had planned on, but it was close by. And the food was good. And-like everyone else I had encountered since entering Oregon- the staff was really nice.
Not so nice, though, when a crazy, disheveled guy tried to sneak behind the bar and steal a bottle of top shelf liquor! I had not planned on dinner theater that afternoon. But I did get a front row seat of the arrest as I ate my sandwich and soup. And hey- I wasn't getting arrested so it was all good.
The subsequent 8 hour train ride gave me plenty of time to alternate between reading and frantically looking for fire condition updates. I had exited the trail last year as a wildfire moved into Crater Lake National Park, so it was quite disheartening to travel into a low- lying blanket of brownish-reddish-grayish smoke. The Crater Lake Rim trail was still open, though, so it was all good.
Which bring us to today. Today, I had planned on taking the shuttle up to Crater Lake and walking the rim trail back into a fire- free forest (the fire is southwest of the lake so I'd be walking away from it. Unlike last year when the fire was northwest of the lake and would have meant walking into danger).
Thats what I HAD planned. Instead, I found myself full circle, staying in the same room at the same hotel as last year while I waited for my bag. I made the most of it.
I visited the Klamath County history museum.
Then, like last year, I walked to the movies and saw an espionage film. (Last year, Mission Impossible, this year, Jason Bourne.). And I had dinner in the one really good restaurant I remember from last year.
All set set to hike out tomorrow. That's the plan. The fire report, however, may have other plans for me tomorrow. I'm just gonna go with the flow.
Until next time, Peace, Love and Trail Magic!