CalPoppy and I were randomly chatting at about 1am this morning when I woke up. He and I agreed it’d be easier to break this down capital-to-capital to make it easier for folks who wanted to meet up or whatnot to communicate without having to sift through one larger thread.
Yesterday we hit capital number 8, Concord! The day prior I’d put about 23 miles in (two fairly large climbs early and then the last 2.5 hours in the rain) and my feet, ankles, hips, and back were all sore. Got about 11 miles into town and booked a room at one of the few hotels with vacancy that would give us a little discount.
It’s more than I wanted to spend on a room but I was hurting. Not severe pain, just enough combined aching pain that got to me.
When I arrived into town there was a running store. I’d sent them a message a few days ago asking if they’d want to donate a pair of shoes and received no response. But one thing I’m really trying to work on with the walk (out of massive necessity for the walk and because I’d like to try to become a somewhat normally functioning adult at some point) is getting the chutzpah to go in and ask for donations (help) face to face. As someone who’s struggled their whole life with their worth, this is a tough task for me. The fear of rejection (and the compounding effect on my self worth, because “if they don’t help then it’s a direct reflection of me personally” is what my brain perceives) keeps me from even asking. However I walked in and got in touch with the manager Max and told him what we were doing and asked if he’d donate a pair of shoes, and he immediately said yes.
I was shocked. It also turned out the Max went to high school at the Cincinnati School for Performing Arts and is actually friends with legendary ultra runner Harvey Lewis. Max took the time to do an actual sizing on one of those dope 3D scanning machines, and presented options and recommendations as opposed to just shoving a shoe at me and getting me out of there. If I lived here that’d be my shoe store for life because of that service. He even got me into a new brand of shoes to try and when I walked around the store, the Topo’s felt great. So here’s to hoping.
Overall the detour we took through Portland and down along the coast was worth it. I got to see an ocean sunrise in Ogunquit, Maine on Monday followed by a stretch along Long Sands beach that was absolutely gorgeous. A gentleman name James who cycles suggested taking that road instead of 1 South was “one of the best scenic routes in the entire state” and it was awesome.
We’ve only got 67 miles to Boston. I had planned on going to Salem to see some of the history there, but that’s another day of meals and potentially needing a room we can’t afford right now so I’m heading straight to Boston. Earlier this week when I was in Ogunquit, the manager at a hotel said he did some web design work for NESN and he tried to get us in contact with them to get me on a Sox broadcast and one of our volunteers had been trying to get me into a game because who wouldn’t wanna see a game in Fenway Park!? But no dice.
Today I’ll start heading south on 3A/28 and will get to at least Manchester, NH, home of the greatest coach in the land, Ryan MFing Day! Hoping their FD responds and will let me camp, I’ve been having terrible luck with FDs and churches allowing me to put a tent up. Even in the more rural areas with no homeless issues. Some chances of rain on the agenda this morning (which means since I’ll be walking it’ll 10000% rain). Lol. Concord is having their Market Days festival and it would’ve been cool to stay and look at the shops (and who are we kidding the food trucks) but it is cost prohibitive so off I go.
67 miles to Boston so it should be about 4 days, maybe 5 if I go a little slowerX could probably do it in 3 if I needed to but I’d be feeling it lol. Being in Boston on the 4th would probably have been cool though!
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