July 26-27 in MA

July 26, 2005 | Day 121 | Miles: 0 | Total Miles: 1515.6
End: Mim's house, Williamstown, MA
Danielle:
Suny and hot
Laundry, grocery shopping, packing up mail drops, a chiropractor appointment for Ryan, and oh yes, sitting on the couch reading the 6th Harry Potter book. Plus eating. I'd say that about sums up our day. Got some things done but otherwise very mellow and relaxing...

Ryan:
sunny, hot
saw a chiropractor today. my body sounded like bubble wrap...and hurt. not sure if he really helped, but i feel like i've done everything i can. we're going to take another day off tomorrow, and then slackpack on thursday and friday. i know, i know...slackpacking. not our first choice, but it will be a good way to gauge how my back will perform. luckily, danielle's parents are willing and able to help us out for the rest of the week. it will be great to be able to come back to mim's house each day after only carrying a light pack...clean and well fed. then on saturday, we'll get back to it...well, for two shortish days before we walk back here on sunday night. i guess if i was going to be broken, the timing was good.
today's song - things can only get better, howard jones. (thanks to the stop n shop for this one...hopefully, it's true.)

July 27, 2005 | Day 122 | Miles: 0 | Total Miles: 1515.6
End: Mim's house, Williamstown, MA
Danielle:
Sunny, hot and humid
Another lazy day at Mim's. Very hot and humid, so we were glad to not be in the woods. We did some laundry, went to the PO, lazed around, then went to a matinee of "Wedding Crashers" with Mom and Dad. The perfect mindless comedy to keep us amused, and in the A/C, for a few hours.
We are planning to slackpack tomorrow. Now for those of you not up on your AT terms, slackpacking means you're basically dayhiking along the trail, with someone dropping you off in the morning and then picking you up at the end of the day. In general we have been "against" this, as it seems like an easier way to hike the trail, versus hiking with all your gear and being self-sufficient. But with our recent turn of events, to give Ryan's back a break for a few more days, and wanting to keep going, we figured we'd give it a try for a few days since my parents were kind enough to offer to shuttle us around. It will allow us to get in some higher miles and also assess how Ryan is doing without getting stuck out in the woods with him hurting. We will truly be doing the same miles, just without all the weight. To keep moving forward is the goal, so we'll do what we have to do to get there! Should be sort of fun to get out there without a big pack for a day or two and see how those miles feel! :-)

Ryan:
sunny, hot am, pm thunderstorms and cooling
another rest day...back at it tomorrow. fingers crossed.