Garfield Ridge CS was anything but restful. Oh my goodness. There were two people with hammocks that showed up around 8pm. Ends up the young man has vivid dreams. He was up several times screaming about his guide lines were not secured, then he was trying to get out of his hammock at 2am, looking for who knows what. The Canadians arrived late also and were trying to be quiet but it’s hard when you’re pitching your tent, getting your gear unloaded and cooking. My bedtime was severely delayed, and I am pooped this morning.

Blue was up early and ready to leave at 6am. She is getting to be an early riser. I was out at 6:30 and she was waiting for me at our very steep downhill, which turned into a cascading waterfall. My feet were wet from the moment I stepped on the trail, ugh. The downhill was 800’ of boulder stepping and hanging onto roots and trees. Good morning knees and quads!

Blue and I stopped at Galehead Hut. It is located at the base of South Twin Mountain, high above the Pemigewasset Wilderness. The hut is one of the more remote AMC Huts, and it is close to many of the most spectacular 4000-foot peaks of the Whites. We stopped in looking for tea or coffee, and any breakfast leftovers. We scored tea but no food. So we ate our beef sticks, cheese and Blue had her big delicious apple. And we drank our lukewarm tea. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Today’s weather reported afternoon thundershowers with lightning. As long as it holds out till late afternoon, we will be fine. After a steep climb from Galehead Hut, we reached the open, rocky summit of South Twin Mountain. This is the highest peak in the Twins and Bonds area, and usually has fine views. Today it was hazy and smoky with cloud cover. The views weren’t too spectacular.

The trail meandered down and then leveled out for most of the morning. It was some of the flattest path I’ve had in quite sometime. Blue and I had a Little Rock scramble near Mount Guyot and found a patch of dirt to have lunch on. It was a great view of the surrounding mountains. The area was Alpine with miniature trees and rock flowers. The only thing missing is the area is void of any critters. A bird or two but nothing else.

Once we headed back out, the thunder rolled in and so did the rain. It was coming down in buckets that I used both my umbrella and rain jacket. This time the rain was much cooler which is par for the course being we have entered the White Mountains. It rained for a couple of hours. This is getting a bit annoying and makes me question how much more I can handle? As soon as I started having thoughts of Hawaii, and laying on a beach somewhere, the rain stopped and the sun attempted to shine.

Blue and I decided we should stop at Zealand Falls Hut and see if they have soup or hot drinks. We headed down our final descent and met one of the Caretakers of the Hut. I asked if they had a full house and she said they just had a couple of cancellations. You’ve got to be kidding? She said we should checkin and stay for the night. I definitely was not doing a work-for-stay because I’ve already worked all day hiking. But I’m willing to pay for a bunk and get dinner and breakfast, plus stay out of the rain for the night. What lucky ducks we are! Seldom do these places ever have availability. Talking with most the guests, they reserved months ago. I paid, found my bunk and headed to the waterfall to cleanup.

This Zealand Falls Hut is one of the nicest of the AMC White Mountain Huts. It’s located next to a grand waterfall with views of the Willey Range and Whitewall Mountain. Because of its accessability, the hut draws some of the largest crowds in the Whites and accommodates 36.

Dinner was served by the entire family, Mom and Dad, their two kids and Dad’s brother and daughter. They were delightful. It was a 7-course meal with Duck Pate, Homemade Bread, Mushroom Soup, Kale Salad with a Pickled Radishes, Vegetarian Enchiladas, Rice and Green Beans. It was exquisite. Then the super special brownie with all sorts of heavenly goodness mixed into it.

I couldn’t imagined a better night. And then it poured down rain for the remainder of the night! And you know what? That’s okay. Mary Poppins scored her work-for-stay with two other thru-hikers. So she’ll be sleeping in the dining hall. I am grateful for my third-story bunk, inside with no rain. We are all snug as a bug in a rug.

The Lord has blessed me tremendously while I’ve been walking this trail. It seems whenever I have a down day or start questioning myself and this journey, my sweet Jesus paves a way for some incredible blessing. The fact that there were two cancellations to the most popular hut on the trail, the exact time and day that Blue and I were passing through, is nothing less than divinely appointed. I’m not sure what I have done to deserve such love, but my God never holds back. What a timely reminder of how awesome He truly is.