Again, you may not see this posting for another day or so since i have no internet where i am.
Got a great night's sleep last night. I think the secret is to drink one of those little bottles of wine i have packed away in my daily food boxes. Last night was only the second time on this trip that i had to rely on those 10 food boxes since i have been supplementing them everyday on the road. The Romans had it almost right when they said, In Vino Veritas. They should have said: In Vino Dormus (or whatever the Latin word for sleep).
After my morning walk with Donner, followed by my usual breakfast (orange juice, oatmeal, apple sauce and coffee), and after i saw the low clouds all around, I was getting all set to break camp and move on to the coast. Then i asked myself, why break camp here only to have to set it up in fowl weather just 264 miles west where it is probably experiencing the same weather? After several minutes of debate, my better judgment prevailed and I made the decision to stay put here ar Mt Rainier, and so here we are, and much better off because of it, i think.
My initial plan was to stay put in the camp today and read, write, and think (not much else to do, the biggest advantage of being on the road), but i decided to explore the park first. We set off at about 11 and despite the rain and fog, often thick fog, i got to appreciate the Magnificent splendor of the park besides the mountain. Thank goodness i got to see the mountain yesterday because she was hidden behind thick scrims of fog. I am quite indifferent towards weather. I take what i can get. In fact, i actually enjoy fowl weather because it gives me a different perspective on Nature and adds to the challenge of being on the road, with a few exceptions.
To avoid having to make dinner in the rain at camp, I decided to get a takeout of soup and salad at the Paradise Lodge, which i took to a stop-out at Reflection Lake. Needless to say, we had the whole stop-out to ourselves.
Back at camp by 3, there was no rain, but it seemed near, so i hurriedly made Donner's dinner and got ready for the deluge, and it came. Literally, the exact instant we got into the tent, the rain came. I can see now how Mt. Rainier got its name: when it rains here , it is "rainier" than anywhere else.
Incidentally, there is one RV in the camp tonight, and no tenters, unless some came in these ladr five hours as i was cocooned in my tent.
It is now 930 and the rain is still coming down,very hard at times. I spent the last five hours reading and sipping tea while listening to Rachmaninov's piano concerto #2, with the rain pelting the tent, frequently drowning out the sounds of the rushing river nearby us. What a cozy feeling it is, once i put out of my mind that at some point i will have to take Donner out for a walk and, tomorrow, break camp.
As for tomorrow, i have already made my decision. If it is raining by the time i should move on to the coast, i will stay out for another day, using the same logic as this morning. Interestingly enough, of the hundreds of camps i have pitched a tent in, i can only recall at five or six times having to set up camp or break camp in fowl weather. It really is not as bad as it sounds, the challenge is to get nothing wet, other than the tent.
Time to think about my options for walking Donner. He does not have the luxury of using a Starbucks coffee cup, as i do.
Ed and Donner, from the road, rainier Mt. Rainier.
your dogs have never had raincoats have they?
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