8/5/03 The day off gave us a chance to assess our condition. Neither of us has had any leg soreness from hiking, but we've both used Injure Gel on our shoulders where the muscles and bones become fatigued from carrying our packs. Rough has also used it for "turf toe" pain. Tumble is using it as a preventive on her knees and Achilles. In addition, she's taking Nature's Way turmeric three times daily for bursa and other joint inflammation, as well as BioChem's Liga-Tend, a supplement she discovered just before we got on the trail. In addition to the Injure Gel and the anti-inflammatory turmeric, she thinks moving slowly and carefully has kept us both from experiencing any of the muscle or joint pains we've had in the past. We also share a protein drink Tumble mixes each night before bed to aid in muscle recovery. Tumble's biggest complaint has been fatigue and her inability to breathe going up hill. She's hoping the vitamins and Gatorade we bought will help.

We had a good night's sleep. We got up with the sun, packed up, ate a quick breakfast, and hitched to the Long Trail trailhead. The trail was gentle, albeit muddy, but passed through stinging nettles, heavily thorned raspberry bushes, and Pale Touch-Me-Nots crowding the path.