What’s up everyone!! Thanks for being patient as we navigate saucy being split up😭.
Ladybug (Sarah) has been forging ahead on the trail by herself for the last couple of weeks, and Lucy has been super committed to doing everything she can to get back on trail, including doctor appointments, PT, getting new shoes, and peloton workouts!
On Trail Updates
On trail, Ladybug did her first ever bathtub laundry in a motel, a bucket list thru hiking activity! She purposefully did not take a picture of the water after she wrung out her socks…
Ladybugs friend, Colonel Sanders had the grand idea of packing in a ton of fresh taco supplies for a feast! Ladybug carried 3.65 lbs of tortillas uphill for 11 miles, but it was well worth it for the meal of the week… everything really does taste better out here, especially freshly made guac 🥑
MEAL OF THE WEEK: fresh tacos!
THE CREW
Ladybug has been hiking with a squad of about 13 people from all walks of life which makes for great conversation. This tramily ranges in age from 18 to 65! Past professions include a horticulture professor, software engineer, farmer, bird rehabber, and Marine. She has throughly enjoyed getting to know everyone and has never been more than a mile from someone in this group—so don’t worry, she’s really not alone! The tramily has been busy crushing out miles and making their own fun. The shenanigans include hanging Ladybug by the bear cables in the Smokies, and tubing down the French Broad River in Hot Springs, NC on a zero day! The shenanis are pictured below:
Miles, Million Dollar Views, & Moonshine!
There have been some killer views along the way … the best of which being an unreal sunset and sunrise at Max Patch, that kicked off Ladybug’s first 20 mile day!!
Ladybug has been averaging about 13 miles every day (a half marathon!😳) but the miles can vary from 8-20! She has been completely in her element on trail, and has been thrilled to find that she experiences zero stress. When else in life will she be able to move this much yet also rest this much? She gets to be sleep for about 11 hours every day and now sleeps better in her tent than in a bed! Her feet are definitely catching up to the miles now as she has blisters everywhere which makes walking harder! In order to keep her sanity, she and her tramily have been convincing themselves that they in fact “love all hills,” and can’t wait to go up the next one! So far Ladybug is in the acceptance stage of this, as she acknowledges that the hills are there, and maybe one day she will even start to truly love the climbs.
Ladybugs parents also visited over the weekend (now referred to as Mr and Mrs Bug). They helped her crush out some miles by slackpacking (they took her heavy backpack), and they got to join in on some trail magic! This led to some morning moonshine and margaritas which made for a loopy afternoon🙂
Lucy/Ankle Update
After a very long, boring, and overall sad couple of weeks… Lucy WILL be back to the trail on Monday!! Huge thank you to all the support from family and friends, and of course her wonderful physical therapist (Dr. Chazzy would definitely be in our tramily). She’s been getting constant updates from ladybug on trail, and feeling very proud of her bestie for crushing out these miles in her absence.
This is now take three of Lucy’s ankle on trail… here’s hoping all of the PT and rehab will pay off to keep it strong. As for the section she’s missed… no one fear! She will be going back down to hike the miles missed once we finish the trail in Maine (this is called a flip flop and very common to do if you get injured or have to get off trail for any reason). As long as you hike the whole trail in 12 months, it’s considered a thru hike.
She is literally buzzing to get back on trail and rejoin ladybug, and meet all the new tramily members. The reunion can’t come soon enough!
Saucy will be back!!
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