Natalie on the IAT: June 2015

How am I going to go back to reality after this? I spent one day this week sleeping outside and that is where I left off with my last blog.

The next day I walked or should I say floated my farthest I have gone in one day - about 21 miles. My feet felt AMAZING! My super bright, Blue-Footed Boobie shoes have invoked the inner bird spirit and I feel capable of flying through these miles now. Now I kind of want to see what my limits are.... might have to have some long days coming up.

Part of the reason my day was so long was because I had killed some time checking out the the Aldo Leopold Center, but his shack is only open for tours on Saturdays, so I didn't see it. Its like people who live in NYC and never saw the Statue of Liberty, I need to get up to Aldo Leopold's Shack. Two WI great naturalists, Aldo and John within a week that part of the state seemed to have some inspiring beauty.

Going back

I then proceeded to walk or should I say... drift, into the driftless area of the state. That's right, hills. I was into some serious scenery and Wisconsin's most popular State Park - Devil's Lake. That night I was debating whether to camp or not and I took an hour and a half break at Parfrey's Glen. Then I decided to call my friend Kristine to see if she would pick me up that night instead of our original plan of the following day. She said she would and so I started to move! I had six miles to go and had to get a move on.

When I got into the camp site area of Devil's Lake I passed a guy walking three dogs on the opposite side of me. As I walked by he goes, "Are you Natalie? - Natalie Koffarnus?" Kind of in shock I say that I am and he says his name is Bill. I had heard his name for years as he is a friend of a friend - GWEN- are you surprised? He had stopped into the park just to walk the dogs and here I pass by. He is another fellow National Guard member, but we had never crossed paths in all the years before, but here we ran into each other randomly in the park. He turned and walked with me to the main parking area and we chatted about the trail and long distance runs until I called for my ride.


He's a real person!

That night Chris, my friend Kristine's hubby came to pick me up and I requested to be taken to Culver's, which upon getting I quickly devoured - eating my ice cream FIRST. That night, I showered and did some laundry and stayed up chatting with Kristine until about midnight. Kristine planned to walk with me the next day. I had my doubts since only a few months ago she was completely immobile and using one of those scooters because of ankle surgery. However, she felt confident and we both took day bags for the loop around Devil's Lake. So thankful I didn't have to have my big pack with me that day. Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail people probably would laugh, but those are some serious climbs up those rocks for WI. That day she and I went about seven miles and then were joined by another of my friend's - Ruth who joined for the last seven gnat and horse fly-filled miles. The day was gorgeous and we found more black berries. Kristine's ankle held up wonderfully. Our day ended right before getting onto the ferry in Merrimac. That night I had a delicious meal with them and my spoiling continued.

To be those that actually do push over balanced rock... just walk away - act cool.

There is a trail in those rocks

Friends!

The next morning Kristine dropped me off, I crossed the ferry and hiked a short section before she once again came out to join me for the Gibraltar Rock Segment. What a beautiful short little hike! If you want to views and not the masses of people, go to this segment. Here is where Kristine really proved her stamina as we continued our hike it began to rain. She stuck with me even when I got her lost behind the Lodi High School. After about an hour or so of getting drenched and walking in shoes that went squish with each step we called for Chris to pick us up. I loooove being able to go inside after being soaked. Kristine had surgery, did 14 miles one day, and she did 9 miles the next day and hiked in the rain. She got some true Ice Age Trail experiences under her belt, and I got two days of slack-packing and some days filled with non-stop conversation. Is amazing though because we were talking for 2.5 days pretty much straight, and STILL I had to call her the next day because we talked so much about the past and present, I didn't even know that in the future she was taking a trip!

I just 'walked' a mile... it was so easy I thought I was floating

Merrimac Ferry

Silly

We hiked up there - Gibraltar Rock

Even the rain can't bring down our spirits!

The next day I was back out there and walked walked walked, it was a lot of road walking and a two mile loop segment. I got out of the loop and then checked facebook and saw a post about fireworks in Madison. I made a quick call to my friend Tami and about two hours later I was picked up and on my way into Madison to enjoy some fireworks. I had not even been thinking about them since its not even July! I had a blast that night catching up with friends, drinking a few beers and just living the life topped off with fireworks.

4th of July fun!

I missed these puff-balls!

Breakfast the next morning with Tami and back out on the trail. I got a message from a seasoned Ice Age Trail hiker that day offering to come hike a bit. I didn't have much left until I was going to be picked up by the VFW, but of course appreciate company. Jared came out to meet me and we chat like we have known each other for much longer than two minutes and it made the time and section go by in the blink of an eye. We both got sprinkled on and when we walked out of the segment, my VFW contact, Bud, was there waiting.

New trail friends!

The morning I left Westfield and back into my shoes, which were getting to feel like razor blades on the back of my heels, I was

not looking forward to the looong road walk I had coming for 2+ days. With long road walks camping becomes an issue. However, I was going to hit a tiny town, Packwaukee and normally you go into the bar, meet a few nice people and get some offers to camp in a yard, so I was relying on that or to take my chances somewhere past town.

I had originally booked a room at the hotel near Packwaukee... which was actually about 4 miles north and decided, I had to at least make it to town that day, otherwise I would feel behind. So I canceled, but because I was originally walking toward the hotel, I didn't take the traditional IAT roads and instead took a different route. Pretty similar mileage, just didn't cross the interstate as soon.

That's the back story, now for the interesting, lucky, crazy coincidence, how-does-this-stuff-happen-to-me part of the story:

I sat at a road intersection, of which I didn't think would be too busy, it was around 1230 and I wanted lunch. So I was nibbling away and putzing on my phone. In the 20 minutes I sat there, three vehicles passed and asked if I was doing okay ect. I was thinking "Man! People sure do question a lone woman sitting on the side of the road" damsel in distress :) so I was pretty excited that since people were so nice I would be able to find a place that night. I got up, put my trash bag securely into my bag and my phone into the pocket I always keep it in. I swung on my bag and was on my way. About a half-ish hour later I wanted to check my phone...

Its wasn't there.

I immediately know that when I slung my bag on I had not zipped the zipper, but my camera was still in the pocket.

I dropped my bag by a mail box and my poles, did not even attempt to hide them and took off running. Did I mention my shoes were to razor point that day? I have not run since starting this hike and walking and running use a different muscle group... I was surprised and kind of happy how good I felt. I stopped once and then imagined a car coming up just as I was getting to the intersection and knowing if I had run I could have saved it, so I ran again.

Meanwhile, on my run back to the intersection I was mentally preparing myself to see a phone smashed to smitherines. Whatever... ITS JUST MY ENTIRE LIFELINE. No biggy. I told myself I would not cry and I would just walk to the bar, have to use someones phone to look up phone numbers... Because really, who knows peoples actual phone numbers anymore. Get a ride to the nearest Verizon store and drop some serious cash for a new phone.

Okay- Mentally prepared for catastrophe and will be an adult about it. I was not prepared to find my phone lying safely in the grassy ditch. When I spotted it. I started crying tears of joy. I was also out of breath from running. It was 1.4 miles in what I would say is my fastest pace. I googled the distance afterwards.

I was out of breath and crying (happy cry) and one of the same trucks that had passed me earlier and asked how I was pulled up again! I waved my phone I had just picked up at them with what I assume was a relieved expression. They roled down the window and they good humorly say I hadn't gotten far. I tell them I had dropped my phone and ran back without my pack. I'm all cry face but I make sure to explain they are tears of joy. They make their turn and I start to limp back toward my bag. Two minutes later they pull over and say they will give me a ride to my bag so that that doesn't disappear by the time I get to it. In that 1.4 mile ride we talk about what I am out there for, they ask where I am staying, and by the time I am out of the car a few minutes later I have their number and an offer to stay with them. (!!!!!!) Who has luck like I do?!?!! I went from losing my phone to meeting the nicest people, Joan and Bill, and having a potential place to stay!

I walked into town, about 2.5 hours, and sat in the Lions Picnic Shelter debating whether to keep walking, go into the bar, the library, or call Joan. I pulled my map out to check my mileage and I only had to walk about 7 miles the next day to my pick up point by the VFW. It then started to rain. I called Joan and left a message. A little while later I was headed to their place, after they confirmed I was not an ax murder and I assumed they were not either. ;) First off I met their dog Grace... Awww. Then I was taken on a 4-Wheeler ride around their property. They are restoring prairie habitat

on their acreage! How awesome is that!!? I learned some new prairie flowers and learned how the DNR helps with the restoration. We then went to their daughter-in-law and son's place and I got to pet some goats and horses, see some chickens and of course meet some more great people!

Liking the scratches

Robyn and her pet chickens that you can actually pet!

Restoring prairie!

Joan and I went back and Bill started up the grill and he cooked me some fresh walleye

he had caught and Joan worked on the fixin's. I had sweet corn, steamed broccoli, and asparagus. So delicious!

I got a hot shower again and got to wash my extremely, hadn't been washed in a week clothes... With her homemade detergent which took away all the smell! We chatted for a while and then I went downstairs and fell asleep thinking how did this all coincide? What were the chances they would come through both times while I was at that corner?

Just the two nicest people anyone could meet on the side of the road! Meeting these two was trail magic!

The next morning, I had a big breakfast cooked by Joan, packed up my things along

What a breakfast to start my day out with!

with a whole bunch of goodies from the two of them and they dropped me back in Packwaukee.

It was all road walk that next day except for about a mile and a half when I got to John Muir County Park. I chatted with two very nice people about the Ice Age Trail and Warrior Hike. It was a little loop trail and so I ditched my bag behind a tree and got to zoom through it. It was nice to imagine John Muir as a boy there and see the land that inspired him, maybe even walk in the same place he did 150 years earlier. 150 years.... How different the world is.

The county park was my pick up point, but I wanted to keep going since it was early. I called my ride and told them that 4 pm would be perfect and just walked on the hot hot road until then. At 4 I waiting for about 1 minute at an intersection and didn't even have my sandals on when Fred and Kathy pulled over to pick me up. From there they took me to my hotel and we went to eat at Suzy's steakhouse.

Another surprise awaited me there, and that was Phil. Who was almost the third IAT Warrior Hiker! He had been hiking at Pewits Nest that day and decided to pop in and then came to eat with us.

Portage VFW and Phil!

Now, to clarify, blog is not called: Natalie'sromancenovella, its called Natalieontheiat. With that said, Aaron also joined for dinner with the VFW which I enjoyed immensely.

That night, by another total coincidence, this was in the parking lot. Ya, its the storm chaser people from discovery channel for their first ever visit in Wisconsin. We chatted with them for a half hour or so... And I was a bit more tuned into what the weather forecast the next day called for seeing as how a vehicle made to withstand an F4 tornado was just chilling out waiting.

And here I just thought they were eccentric people, but Noooo, they are famous eccentric people!

Tornado Tank!

The next day started rainy and I decided to take my first 0 mileage day. I was about 8 miles ahead of my pick up point so I wouldn't be behind by much. On my first 0 day, Aaron toted me down to Madison and I got new footwear. New shoes, which after day one are working great although it's only been roads to test them with. And new sandals as well. New shoes, the day spent with a pretty awesome guy, and time to let my feet heal all while not being sucked up into a tornado. Life is good.

time to wear out another pair

Old for new!

ALRIGHT REI for supporting the IAT!! (They know we will buy some of our gear from them)

The day actually turned into a beautiful day, and for a second I felt a twinge of remorse for not walking, but my ripped up feet thanked me. One of my pinkie toenails fell off so I am down to 8 remaining attached, with 5 of those actually being alive.

The final day I walked right through the town of Portage and along the fairly stagnant and sometimes stinky waters in

Indian Agency House

Not quite the Panama Canal

the canal. Also went to visit the Indian Agency House, but the tour was too long to fit in... a place to return to along with Aldo Leopold's cabin which I also won't get to tour this time around. The day ended along Levee road, which is seemingly the place to take your very expensive cars for joy rides. Long, flat, little traffic, and no cross traffic.

This curious guy hung out with me for about 15 min. I was resting and my Spidey senses kicked in that I wasn't alone... There is was, and stayed for a good while.

Big League Chew... Biggest bubble got to be queen of the Levee... I won.

That leaves me up to this morning. I will reach Devils Lake State Park today and ending another long road walk.

Learned about Spider Wort from Joan, was used for dye by Native Americans

My first wild berries! Black raspberries! Had to rub anti-sting on my arm after picking these, I was a bit overzealous and didn't realize that they either pricked me or the large - that might be poison sumac bush growing with them got me.