Day Twelve

Saturday, April 2, 2011
Distance: 17.2 Miles

A Baltimore Street


The weather was odd. I started around eleven and found the weather too warm for my wool base layer. I had to peel it off. Then a barely-there drizzle -- then partly-sunny -- then hail -- then partly-sunny -- then an ominous raging downpour, for ten minutes -- then beautiful billowy clouds set against the coming sunset. Setting down and changing gear every hour was annoying. Pack cover, rain jacket, rain pants, socks, and base layer all had to be done undone and redone. At one point I lost the sternum-strap buckle on my pack. This buckle was designed by someone who never thought about how it should properly function. The load is borne with its small arms, which can barely grab the shoulder strap webbing. When tightened the tension pulls the vertical strap into the area of the buckle least able to handle it. The strap bunches, and on releasing the sternum strap the buckle falls off or hangs on for dear life with one point of contact instead of four points. They designed it backwards. Other than that my gear is performing well.

I learned yesterday that my dog Cesca died. She had been quite ill with cancer in her brain and bladder as well as significant arthritis in both her rear knees. An onset of a series of seizures that left her floored and exhausted were enough. My parents had the vet kill her. She was born March 1996 and she lived to be fifteen. She was gentle, affectionate, and adorable. A favorite story of mine is that Cesca liked my friend Mike, a cat person of the highest order, and she became the first dog Mike learned to like.

I will make my way into the Beltway after leaving Baltimore to spend the night of the third with my good friend from college and ultimate, Goose.


Camden Yard


USS Constellation