To say I wasn’t worried about the temperatures down by Taylors Falls is an understatement. I just can’t seem to do heat anymore. Add about that degree of humidity and it is asking for disaster. It’s only been a few days on trail and I have already forgotten what time we got up at home on day one. I think it was 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. Somehow it doesn’t seem to matter. It was early though. I wanted to be able to get Finn and Siggy up for a while because it would be a long day at home without anyone. Andrea was due to come and let them out in the afternoon before she went to her activities for the weekend.

I had coffee and toast and Tom had his flakes. I don’t believe anyone else ate. But we are all adults and everyone can take care of themselves or so I hope.

We arrived at St. Criox Falls around 8 a.m. All of us hiked down to the Western Terminus of the Ice Age Trail and had the obligatory group photo. Tom had agreed to slackpack us 7 some miles up the trail, so he would do his thing until we got ahold of him. Around noon, he met us a a park, and see all had lunch together of a leftover pizza from Thirsty Moose. After another segment, where we all head to take off our shoes and socks to cross a creek, Tom picked us up and we headed down the connector route to the Gandy Dancer Segment of the trail.

The Ice Age Trail uses yellow blazes which is a little strange since we are all used to the AT white blazes. When Tom picked us up and dropped us off with our fully loaded backpacks I was so thankful that we hadn’t had to carry them those first miles. We only had a mile into Centuria, WI, and both Spirit and I agreed that was far enough for one day. We were sweating buckets by the time we got into town. There was a restroom there with air-conditioning and we laid out our sit pads, had a snack, and waited out the blazing hot sun.

So, here we are lying on the restroom floor lobby, charging our phones, eating snacks, taking naps, and then cooking and eating supper. Finally, around 7 p.m. we decided to go and set up our camp.

We found an open area just off of the Gandy Dancer trail not too far from the restroom and we set up camp and called it a night. We had just settled down on our beds when the city siren went off. Tumbler told me the next day it was a fire alarm. Sheesh!! I’m glad I wasn’t asleep yet.

With Ratman studying the guidebook, it was decided the next day’s route. It was due to be another hot and humid day. Spirit and I decided to get up at 4:15 a.m. and hike by 5:30 a.m. My backpack is now named Albatross! It has come to represent emotional weight in a physical form. To say I hate it, is an understatement!