Zero day at Grand Lake

Day 67

Date: 07.07.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 1'343.6

Miles hiked: 0 miles / 0 km

Camping at: Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge, Grand Lake

I have decided to take a zero day here. Grad Lake is beautiful, as are all of the towns in Colorado, and I do need a break. My food hurts terribly, I can hardly walk. While having breakfast in town with Boss, he also decided to stay one more day here. He has knee issues. Also, I bump into many CDT hikers I haven't met before which is really nice. It seems like we are at the 'middle end', but not the last ones of the bubble. I thought we are at the very end. Seems like we are in the bubble of the hikers who didn't take any shortcut alternates as many other hikers did, and they are quite ahead of us now. But that's no wonder, cause they skipped my miles, snow and high meters. We are doing fine.

I have a lot of chores to be done today which will take all day for sure. It took me for sure 1.5 hrs to talk to my phone operator. I can make calls again, but internet still doesn't work. Then I was on the phone for about 2 hours with the Post office in Fraser. They don't want to send my bounce boxes ahead if I don't show up personally! It was such a mess. I called a trail angel in town, Karen, who drove me all the way to the post office in Fraser within 5 minutes calling her. Absolutely amazing. I wouldn't know what I would have done without her! The Post Office in Fraser sucked! I had to pay 60 USD to forward my unopened bounce boxes which is the first time in the US. Normally you can bounce boxes ahead for free if not opened. On the way back we stopped at the lake with a stunning view and I did see ospreys fishing and pelicans. It was soooo beautiful! And Karen made my day! By the time I am back it was already 6.30pm, the phone plan and the post office took all afternoon to be sorted out, it's hilarious! But I am so happy I sorted these things out.

I met up with Vista down at the town center in a bar for a drink. And thereafter we get some food, before we headed back to the hostel with some more drinks, meeting up and chatting till late with the other hikers.

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