My brother comes to visit, beach walk? And Two Rivers VFW

The night with Cheryl and her family was great. It was a great night followed the next morning by getting to meet Jenni's aunt and uncle who came to spend the day with her.

Blair then took me to a parking lot where I would end up that day. I had tried to make all the road miles into Manitowoc, but fell short with the rain.

It's just going to sprinkle... I have NO accuracy when it comes to how much its going to rain.

The reason I wanted to be done with the road was because my brother Mick came to walk with me that day! He lives in Virginia and we had been talking about this for months. Definitely something I was looking forward to a long time. We staged Mick's car and Blair then took us to where I had made it to on the road the day before, Mick had to suffer through only about 4 miles of hot county road before we got into Manitowoc and then into a short actual trail segment.

Thanks Blair! 

We then stopped for a yummy lunch and then went to the maritime museum and toured the WWII Submarine. We ended the day with a few more miles up to his car but took a detour out to one of the wave breakers with a little light house at the tip. When we got to the car we headed toward the hotel and then out to eat where we both got Lake Michigan caught white fish. YUM!

My brother! It's my brother!!!!

The next morning we went to breakfast, and our visit came to an end with Mick dropping me off back at the lake shore parking lot. A sad way to start the day.

I was walking along the lake shore all morning and was so caught up in my thoughts I completely missed the turn into the dunes segment! I was two miles past it by the time I realized what I had done. Uhg. Oh well, I wasn't going back, so I thought when the VFW picked me up that weekend I would ask if they could take me there (which they did). I instead went into the library and spent a few hours writing blogs I was behind on.

After all that blogging I continued on my way and only made it a mile before I chose to stop again for o get an ice cream Sunday from the Washington House which is supposedly the home of the Sunday. If you haven't noticed from all the Ice cream pictures I've posted, and will continue to post... I like ice cream. A lot.

Okay, after ice cream it was on to the beach walk segment which I had heard can be challenging due to Lake Michigan's water level being very high. Ummm. Yes. I strapped my shoes and poles to my bag and walked at least 2 out of the 3 miles right in the water that was at times passed my knees in height. My shins and thighs were burning. It was a good workout. I liked walking in the water more than the slice your legs up and quick sand dune grass area. That is also a very fragile environment and I felt bad trampling it.  Anyway... It was a different type of segment and it also made one of my lingering toenails mostly come off. The count is down to 7 attached toenails.

Very high water... No beach to walk on

As beachy as it ever got

More accurate

That night I happened upon the walk-in camp ground for the IAT that I hadn't realized existed. It was fantabulous!!!  There is also a kayak camp site there. It's about 40 feet from the beach and is pretty new. I plopped down, made some food and lived it up. The next morning I did something I hadn't done the whole hike. I got up before sunrise so I could watch the sun come up over Lake Michigan. Worth it! I had intended to then start hiking, but I made the fatal mistake of crawling back into my sleeping bag. A couple hours later I actually got up and started the day.

Yaaaa... I'm not really a morning person

Here comes the sun....

Do do do dooo do.... 

Here comes the sun

do do dooo do do (song)

One thing was bugging me that morning. I had first broke my 6 dollar sunglasses the day before and I then lost them to boot. I wasn't looking forward to a squinty day of hiking. But my extreme luck kicked into high gear that day. About 3 miles into my hike that morning, a few miles from the nearest road and in the middle of the grassy trail I almost stepped on something... A pair of sunglasses!!!! Someone else had lost a pair, not even scratched up or broken and way better than my 6 dollar pair! Seriously?! Did that really happen? Did I lose/break my glasses and find a nice pair the very next day a few miles before reaching the sunny road? How am I so lucky???!!!!! Unbelievable.

Along the road walk I ran into Jared again. A section hiker I had met in Cross Plains. I had to tell him about my glasses and the extreme amount of biting flies he was about to encounter in the upcoming segment that day. (They drive me bonkers!)  He told me how he had been asked for directions three times already that day! I have been asked for directions about 5 times this whole hike and always think it's hilarious that people ask the random hiking girl in the middle of nowhere directions. Many people seemingly leave their house without GPS still, and also... maps. Back in the day before I had GPS, I had about 20 maps in my car (not an exaggerated number. I'd go into AAA and stock up). I get it, I still ask for directions too, but it doesn't change the fact I think it's funny. Also, all ages have asked me just as an FYI.

Alright, so that brings me to getting into Mischicot where I got to eat a town fair corn dog for lunch and walk right through a car show. That was an unexpected treat!

So happy I finally hit the timing of a town fair!

I went a few miles more and called Mike, the VFW contact to pick me up. He found me on the side of the road and after picking up some farm fresh corn for the cookout that evening, he took me to the Dunes segment I had walked right past a few days prior. It was an easy two-ish miles and took less than an hour. But at least it wouldn't be weighing on my mind that I hadn't finished!

Proof!

Mike picked me up again and took me to Donna and Fred's house where I would stay that night. Donna is part of the Auxiliary and perhaps every other volunteer organization that exists. She is in her upper 70s and incredibly active! Her and Fred were amazing hosts. I got cleaned up and we headed to the cookout the VFW put together for us. A big friendly group of people were there and I proceeded to cook one of the most delicious steaks I've ever eaten along with grilled corn and a ton of sides that members brought. I literally had 2 plates of food in front of me and I then went up for desert (all 4 of them). I just don't understand how I've only lost 5 pounds hiking ;) Its a mystery.

Thank you Two Rivers VFW, Auxillary and Honor Guard!

I ate a llllott!

Such an amazing steak from some butcher shop... I didn't even screw it up on the grill!

Meat is on! Mine is front middle if you're wondering.

Thank you Donna and Fred for letting us invade your home!

Mike, the VFW Commander and my chauffer ;)

Goodies for my hike ;)

So much happened this week!! Trail angels galore!

After another great VFW visit with Cambellsport, we were off on the trail again. We had one more night in the Kettle Morraine. And that day we hiked with a fellow veteran, Matt. He went about 8 miles with us and it was like we were old friends the way the jokes were coming. After he left us, Jenni and I continued on until we hit Shelter 4. I wanted to stay there and check out the tower although that meant back-tracking over a mile. It was worth it for the cell phone reception the tower provided. 

We picked up a fellow veteran hiker for a bit!

Two things happened while up on the tower besides me talking on the phone a really long time. First found a working lighter. Since the fluid in mine was almost out, I considered it a lucky day. However, a teenager came down to the level I was on and asked do if I had found a blue lighter. I handed it over and said, I had. He said, I knew you had it, I saw you pick it up. To which I replied, if you knew I had it, why would you ask if I had it - just ask for it back. (It had been in my pocket almost 2 hours at this point. I could have left with it a looong time ago.) He replied touché. Not sure why that annoyed me so much... Maybe it was the tone and body language in which he asked.

An additional 3 miles for cell reception and a beautiful sunset? Okay :)

The second thing that happened is when I was at the top and taking pictures of the view these two guys were looking at Holy Hill through their binoculars. I must have been looking super sad and forlorn because on their way down, one looks right at me and said God bless you. (I had not sneezed). About two hours later after a long phone conversation with a friend, I see this sitting next to my water bottle at the base of the tower! Geez! I mean, I was not in a happy mood up there, but my goodness! My resting super sad face must have been out.

I wasn't going to jump... Yeash.

I walked back to the shelter the 1+ mile in the dark... It was further away than I had remembered. A deer snorted at me and then I had to set my tent up next to Jenni's.

The next morning I woke up in a super great mood. But had a lazy morning anyway. Since I hadn't eaten dinner, I had ramen for breakfast.

Starting the morning right! 

Good morning Jenni!

It was a hot hike out of the Kettle Morraine that day, and we decided to walk into Glenbeulah. We got some food at the one restaurant/pub and ended up camping in a guys yard just outside of town. I was again on the phone most of the night... But the next morning I got to go for a swim!!! Oh my gosh did that just hammer in how much I miss the water! I played around with my cameras underwater setting. I was only going to be in the pool a few minutes but could have stayed in there a day. I cannot wait till I can be in the water on a regular basis. My paddle board is calling my name back home.

Best start to a day in a long time! I miss the water! Hiking is okay, but... but... I like to swim too!

That night, after a long, fairly uneventful and hot hot hot, very sunny road walk we got to JoEllen and Dave's place. They are trail angels right on the path. We were treated to spaghetti, corn on the cob, homeade bread, and a yummy desert. We had some options for sleeping that night. I chose the Scamp they had!!!! My first night glamping (glamour camping). It was love at first sleep. I see a Scamp in my future. Jenni stayed in the house. The next morning I had a bowl of cereal with a big handful of wild raspberries from their yard. We then set off for the road walk we had before us.

Such great people!

We got about 22 miles into the road walk when it started to sprinkle. I, in my normal way, thought it wouldn't amount to anything. Jenni, recommended to call the trail angel we had contacted for that night. After the sprinkling got a bit stronger about 5 minutes later I listened to smarty pants Jenni and called Cheryl. Here is the text message I had received earlier from Blair, Cheryl's son. Turns out I would be meeting another WI Army National Guard member that night! I was excited!

It was a big family affair at Cheryl's house and everyone was incredibly nice. Cheryl herself is a thousand-miler! She sectioned hiked the trail and finished a few years ago. She is still active though with the IAT as the next morning she was off to do some mowing for us. That night we were treated to tacos and dirt desert. We also had another reporter visit us while we are the tacos. Blair, had set up tent-ma-hall for us and we got to play disk gold on their very own course and enjoy that night by a camp fire.

How amazing was this meeting!

Disk golfing at dusk

We walked onto a truck scale that was just hanging out not being used.... Ummm I don't want to do the math. But with our packs and both us together that scale reads 380... Yikes!

Road walking.... And walking... And walking.

Most definitely!

Jenni's forever crooked pack.

I hit the 1000 mile mark today... For real. And also in "oh my gosh this is almost done and poo is going to hit the fan soon" mind set.

I have less than 50 miles until the end of the main portion of my hike. I just reached that for real 1000 miles, (even with missing the 80) The thoughts swirling in my head are coming fast and furious...:

• I still have 80 miles to finish at a later time... Won't be rushing into completing that.
• I have to move into my apartment. I want to buy old furniture, use my one and only power-tool , a sander, and do crafty /unique things.
• The day after I finish here I have to put my uniform on and be in Camp Douglas.
• I need to buy furniture for said apartment.
• I start working Aug 5th. I have a total of three days to myself between trail and work.
• I want a full body massage, facial and haircut. A pedicure is pointless until my toenails grow back.
• I did not study for the GRE while out here... Not at all. I need to study for the GRE.
• I'm going to continue to live on an air mattress for a while, albeit a much thicker one than what I have now.
• I want to spend time on my paddle-board before the weather turns cold.
• I need to determine if my lifestyle can handle a dog and maybe try to foster one instead of immediately giving in and becoming a cat lady.
• I need to switch into running gear and do exercise other than walk to prepare for army physical fitness test and an upcoming relay marathon.
• Where do the people I want to see and visit fit into my life when I'm first back? Going to have to hermit it up for a while.
• I need to start researching which schools I'm going to apply to.

Baaahhhh! I feel like I'm doing the ol' ignore reality thing I am so good at... While reality is winding up to smack me across the cheek.

My stomach is a knot. I want to be done with the trail. I don't want the whirlwind that is headed my way.

With the end of this hike, I have so many beginnings coming. So much to take in at once.

Get it?

I had to fix this quote to make it relevant to me :)

Reporters and Sean visit, Cambellsport VFW, mile ~ 942

We survived the rain storm with no damage. Jenni slept with her sunglasses on to din the lightening, and I just ignored the fact I might be blown away. I was too busy imagining if a tornado warning would pop up on my phone that the lowest and only shelter within a mile was the tiny little bathroom 40 feet away with its dug-out poop hole. Death by tornado or poop hole... I couldn't decide so I just thought that decision would have to be made when the time came.

The day was very hot and humid and we were in the sun a lot, but we got to stop for lunch in Delafield and we took a lot of breaks. Didn't quite make the miles I wanted, but that's okay. We ended in Hartbrook Park and were picked up by my friends Phil and Jolene. We stopped at the store and got cookies (I love cookies, they are a weakness of mine) and Belgian Red and were off to their place. Showers and a delicious homemade meal followed and lots of catching up. Man do I love that family. We even escaped the rain shower that night :)

Such a fantastic night with friends :)

Watching there rain... Through a window!!!

The next morning Jolene dropped us off and we were met in Hartbrook Park by Channel 12 news from Milwaukee. I have never done a TV segment before and we walked across a bridge about 7 times total. But Tim and Dave were a lot of fun the segment turned out really well. I got the microphone at first and Jenni got a go-pro. She is now an official TV footage person. WISN 12 News clip

We didn't get all that far that day, but had some pizza for dinner, out of a freshly cleaned oven, so hopefully it didn't contain oven cleaning stuff and we slept with a view of Holy Hill. The next morning, Jenni is soaked with dew because of not having her rain fly on, so she takes off early. I let my stuff dry in the sun and continue on later. After 6ish miles I was planning to stop and use the bathroom at the base of Holy Hill. As I near the area I hear the school busses. Not the motors, the children. Its like the cartoons where kids are hanging out the windows just screaming and making noise. That's exactly what this was. I was still in the woods and safe from the chaos and I looked at the map for the next available bathroom. It was a long ways away. After some thinking, I walked toward the park. The kids are barreling off the bus with gigantic cooler and they are going to eat lunch. Jenni pops in her ear plugs and I am green with envy. She and I hang out there long after the kids go up to Holy Hill and two guys come up to talk to us as we are eating. Here is a snippet of the conversation:

Guy 1 at park: Maybe we should go George (name has been changed) these girls are in the middle of eating. He says this after guy 2 has grilled us with questions about hiking for the last 10 minutes)
Guy 2 at park: I like to sit here. (on the one picnic table we are at instead of the 10 empty others)
Guy 1: what are you girls doing the hike for?
Jenni: We are hiking with Warrior Hike, a program for veterans to get into nature.
Guy 1: Oh, so veterans come hike with you?
Jenni: Sometimes they do....
Natalie: We're the veterans. (Monotone)

We continue on our walk for that day, stop in Slinger for some yummy food and the next morning are joined by Chelsey a reporter from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She had been planning to join us for part of our hike since the beginning and it finally worked out. Katie, a photographer joined us for a little bit too. That day poor Chelsey had to put up with Jenni and me and all our weirdness.  There was some section hiking and a lot of road walk. We were planning to camp at Timber Trail Campground, and after it started raining I called there to see if there was a trail there from the road. On the map it is just floating out there so it was hard to tell. No trail, but the camp ground guy came out to pick us up :) Yeah!

I directed the news people to join me in my 'ponder'pose. This is ponder-worthy news right here. 

We got to the camp ground and the secret we had been hiding from Chelsey all day was finally revealed. Sean Gobin the founder of Warrior Hike was at the camp ground waiting for us with his Deuce and a Half. He was on his way over to the Mississippi for Warrior Paddle's kick off week and stopped in to see us on his way. I got the biggest greeting hug and it was very much so needed and appreciated. Sometimes a person just needs a real hug.

Dueces! 

That night it rained constantly, and we hung out in the rec hall that had beer, ate pizza and played corn-hole. Having Chelsey and Sean with us made for a really fun night, but Chelsey being a reporter, we hoped the article would come out okay. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Article Have I mentioned that I have eaten more pizza on this walk than I ate all last year combined... and maybe more than I have eaten the last two years combined? I mean, I like pizza and all... but I am looking forward to having other options more readily available to me. Think I may take a few months break from it.

Sweet Victory in corn-hole

So the bar closed around 1030, our tents were still not set up and its still raining. We hid out in the 2.5 ton vehicle for a bit and then get on with the inevitable and Chelsey and I set up our tents in the rain. Jenni crashed on the floor inside the truck. I was up pretty late that night with text messages and the rain. The next morning, everything was soggy. Yuck.  We packed up and headed to Perkins for breakfast where I spread my tent out to dry and use the truck as a drying rack. The truck was not acting healthy on the way to breakfast and when Sean was taking Jenni and I back to the trail, we ended up on the side of the on-ramp.  We walked to a rental car place, waited waited waited for a ride and then to the tow place. Sean was on his way in the rental after dropping Jenni and I off.

Jenni... Ummm can you fix it? I mean, it was your Army job.... 

We had a very late start, the day was extremely humid and we just gave up on our mile goal completely. So much so, that when we went near a McDonald's we went inside and spent 3 hours in it on the WiFi. That was my first hamburger from a McDonald's in I don't know how long. It was under 2 bucks! So crazy cheap! No wonder why it might not be real meat.

Ice cream? Yes. 

Yeah McDonalds?? Seriously only good enough for breakfast, just saying. 

We started walking again with our goal to get into the Northern Kettle Moraine to the first shelter. We strolled in around 9pm and two people were already in their tent outside the shelter, they were fine with us joining the area. We pitch our tents, it is still 78% humidity and 80+ degrees but finally starting to cool down. We wanted to get an early morning start so we set our alarms for 6am. Alarm goes off... I wake up and it seems like it might rain. For the first time the entire trip I am only in my underwear and bra because it was so hot. We start to put our rain flies on our tents and the wind comes rolling down the way swaying trees in every direction. "Are we going to have a tornado?" I yell to Jenni? and she says "you may want to put some clothes on!" And instead of the rain fly I threw on my shorts and tshirt and started to grab all my stuff and run to the shelter. The other two campers were doing the same thing. It starts raining and trees are cracking and falling all over. I talk with the other campers and we all wait it out for a while and Jenni falls back to sleep for a few hours. I hide under a rain fly for a while to get out of the mosquitoes and can't take it anymore and start to walk since the rain had stopped.


That day we have a lot of company on the trail because of a Trail Dog's race. It had a 50k, a marathon and a half marathon among other distances. I picked up so many small branches and small trees along the path that day. I do that anyway, but I felt bad for the runners. The race started late, things were muddy and there were downed trees and sticks all over. It would have been tough conditions.

And the race goes on

Lots of debris on the trail from the wind.

When we got to our pick up point that day, we were saved from another storm and a tornado watch by the Cambellsport VFW. We checked into our hotel, got cleaned up and then went to the laundry mat that comes prepped with shot glasses and then to get food from the store. We also crashed a wedding at the American Legion in town :) all before ending up eating at Bublitz... Did someone say BUFFET? with the VFW members.

Party laundry! Really it's to measure soap, but gives a different impression

At the American Legion after crashing a wedding reception (not really, but almost)

Eating with some pretty darn interesting people. Who was in the German Army AND the American Army for WWII? That guy up front on the right. 

Did someone say... Buffet??

Still wearing his jump boots, retrofitted for a brace and pant legs cut and sewn up with zippers to allow for the boot.  

Our cool new coin!

Still not caught up, so still quoting procrastination. 

"The best way to get something done is to begin." -Author Unknown

What???? When will the new inventions stop?

Waiting out the rain in the park entrance for our VFW rode

Quck! Get to Perkins!

Seems like they have been a couple since longer than 2005... Huh. Learn new stuff every day.

That sign is legitimate

Hiker-trashing up Holy Hill

Food from Slinger! BLT with egg and avocado!!!

Beautiful sunset

Crossing

Ummm... Hey. What are you doing?

I have a microphone!