Day 31 - northport and gone

I woke up really early to the sound of cows and their cowbells. It was not the best alarm I could have imagined. Cows sure can MOO loud. I walked down the gravel road past sheep creek campground and onto the highway into northport. I crossed the Columbia river only a few miles from the Canadian border and was surprised to see that is only about a third the size that it is at my house in Vancouver. Once in northport I got my town things end which mostly included charging things up and collecting packages from the post office. Then I began to organize. It was perfect timing to get in to town around 10 am when I did because I bought a coffee and my friend Josalin sent me at least a couple dozen cookies and I called coffee and cookies my well balanced breakfast. As I began to organize and pack up my food I realized my pack might actually break under all that weight and there was no way I could eat it all in the coming 5 days so I mailed some of it ahead to my last stop in Eureka Montana. From here I had lunch in town and then really just felt more like getting on the road and getting miles in while it was a bit cooler that the previous days so I hiked on out of town and got in a few miles. In fact I think I got in enough miles to be able to get back on a real trail tomorrow. I am entering grizzly country pretty soon and my can of bear spray arrived. Other than my deadly fists that spray is my only weapon. It is basically strong pepper spray. In town I was also warned about the wolves but I am truly not worried about anything other than a charging momma grizzly.

850 mile shoes

Columbia river

Day 30 - cowbells

This morning I woke up and walked old logging roads around the kettle mountains and down to the kettle river. It was very nice that even on roads that were unsigned I managed to pick the right one to follow and my mistakes costs me only a few minutes. Most of the roads were really not roads, but cleared 6 foot wide paths for snowmobiles to use that had three foot tall weeds. When it got thick it was tough to wade through all the weeds. I made good progress and crossed the highway to Orient and continued to make progress. Then at a tricky road junction I met the daughter of the trail angel's (mamacita) house that I stayed at in nooksack. It was nice to talk to her for a while. Her trail name is cedar. From there I continued on and started hearing bells. I could not figure out what they could be from but then I finally passed a pasture and saw the cows with bells around their necks. It was unique for sure and now I am camped and surrounded by cowbells. Hopefully I get some sleep. Today I saw many rabbits, peacocks, grouse, and many cattle. Tomorrow I should get in to northport and hopefully get a shower and some laundry done and finally get to put on my new shoes!