Glengarry to Inverness   |   Accommodations: Dusky Diamond B&B, 21 Beach No 1 Rd, Inverness NS

I do not want to get up. I stay in the bag until 5:00 before forcing myself out into the morning. I think I have gotten enough sleep over the night. I was quite exhausted after yesterday’s escapades through uninteresting terrain stretched out over an unnecessarily-long trail. I am ready and on the trail by 6:00, and the morning’s 5-kilometre walk into the town of Mabou is actually quite nice, offering views of mountains and rivers. At least there is some kind of payoff today—I am able to take a few interesting photos. By 8:00 I reach the town of Mabou, pausing to rest, make hot chocolate, and look over maps of upcoming sections of the trail. I do not want to get caught on another uselessly long trail bordered and treelined without views of surrounding landscapes. I walk toward the supermarket on the far side of town in search of water. I pick up everything I need and enjoy some fruit before walking out of town northbound. The midmorning had clouded over, but the day soon heats up when the clouds parted, revealing a hot sun radiating rays from a sky clearing overhead. Sometime around 11:00, I find a spot to sit down, cook food, rest, and dry out the socks, boots, and feet. I continue on to the town of Inverness, arriving at a corner store on the outskirts of town. Some refreshing beverages are purchased, and I take the time to ask the owner about local hotels. The woman tells me that there are very few in the area, with the likelihood that all are fully booked. She gives me the number to a B&B, and when I make the call—sure enough—it is full. As I relax into the Adirondack chair and enjoy my drink, my phone rings two minutes later. The woman I just spoke to at the B&B informed me that she has just received a cancellation for the evening, and that if I was still interested in the room it was available. I am and I make the reservation. I make the short walk into town, stopping at the visitor information centre on the way. Within ten minutes I am checked in and unpacking the bag. A quick restorative shower is enjoyed before I walk to the beach ten minutes away. I then find some food downtown (pizza and pints) and return to the room by 5:45 with my take-out. I eat while resting with mindless daytime television on in the background. All images from the phone are transferred to the laptop, organizing all files into daily folders. All voice memos are transferred and air-dropped into place. This takes close to two hours, and I am exhausted when finished. As I have no energy for writing, I turn off the lights and quickly sink into a deep sleep.

Today’s distance walked: 37.32 km    |    Total distance walked: 2,271.53 km