Florenceville-Bristol to Northampton   |   Campsite: 46.06034° N, 67.55091° W

Sleeping right next to the trail is usually my favourite way to camp. The mornings are so much more interesting because once the pack is fully prepared, the walking begins immediately.  5:15 I am walking south down “The Great Trail” through trees, ferns, fog-filled meadows, and farm fields alongside the river bank. I am excited about today’s walk for a number of reasons, mainly being able to walk another section of this amazing trail! Not having to deal with highways and traffic is a real privilege. Also, today is different from the previous few days in that I will be passing through a town 15 kilometres down the road where I’ll have the opportunity to stop for a rest, coffee, snack, and time to journal. The temperature his morning on the trail through to the town of “Hartland” has been mild, rising to 19 degrees by the time I arrive. The forecast for the rest of the day appears to be clear, with rain projected to fall this evening, continuing until I reach the city of Fredericton Friday mid-morning. Twenty minutes of rest is enjoyed before the pack is organized and I am back out by 9:20 walking southbound in search of an access point to rejoin the trail and to photograph the covered bridge which I could clearly see from my seat at the coffee shop. As I was leaving, I was approached by a man sitting at the next table. Alison and his wife Charity begin a conversation with me about the walk, and they pass on some good information about the trail southbound to the town of “Woodstock”. They wish me good luck, saying to be sure to view the covered bridge before leaving town. I walk down, and snap a number of shots—the structure is wild—all wood, all angles, all aged beautifully. I buy some fruit at the market, and when I ask about the trail ahead, the cashier points across the street to speak with Erica at the tourism information office. She ultimately cautions me from walking the trail section from “Hartland” to “Woodstock” southbound as a pair of cyclists a few days prior informed her that the trail had been washed out a few kilometres south of town. So, I take Highway 105, which is fine, because traffic is light and the road holds beautiful views of the river at every turn. Only, the road is full of hills, and in the rising temperature of the afternoon, it becomes a workout. Kevin was a man driving a car that slowed to a stop, asking if I would like a ride. After explaining my story, he looked at me with a smile and asked, “So you’re out here on purpose?” I say yes, that I wasn’t expecting this road to be so full of hills, and that I was here because the road was recommended over the trail. He called me over and gave me a small fold-out pamphlet of “The 100 Best One-Line Jokes”. I thank him, and he replies “God bless” before driving on. A big, friendly man with a full, impeccable beard, and a nice manner of conversing. After hills, sun, humidity, and distance, I make it to the town of “Woodstock”. After climbing a massive hill into town, I invest in a family-sized Greek salad, inhaling it on a green area under trees alongside the grocery store parking lot as I enjoy a few cold pints. I then walk over to a coffee shop to access wifi. This is where I met Jody who moved to town from Winnipeg after living there for over 50 years. We talk about travel, risk-taking, the culture of communities, and doing big things. She is calming to talk with, and I felt immediately peaceful with her demeanour. After mapping out the next three days of walking to Fredericton, I leave, walking toward the 105 highway southbound. I had found online a cemetery about 15 km from town and figured I would try to reach it by sundown. The road is again quite hilly and has me working hard. By 7:30, about a km before the cemetery, I come across a community recreation centre that is closed for the day. It is surrounded by landscaped lawn and good coverage from the road. I set up the tent, make a meal of rice, and then I am settled inside by 8:00 to prepare for the evening. I journal out the day, get some reading in, and psychologically prepare for the upcoming three days of rain as I walk the final 90 km into Fredericton.

Today’s distance walked: 56.86 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,529.20 km

“Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.”

– “The 100 Best One-Line Jokes”, a gift from Mike who I met while walking today