I went back to William O'Brien State Park the day after I finished the Hiking Club. Truthfully, I was just going because the office had been closed and there was only one stamp remaining in my booklet, and only one was available outside the building. I know that it wasn't required for club completion, but if these travelogues have not led you to understand my compulsive completionist needs, I've done a terrible job of communicating thus far.
As previously stated in the Hiking Club blog, March 14th had reached 70 degrees after I was used to hanging around in temperatures with a minus in front of them. By the next morning, it was a balmy 45, and ominous weather approaching indicated that more seasonable Minnesota March weather was imminent, so I truly don't know what compelled me to start walking after getting stamp 74/74. Maybe it was feeling lonely. Maybe it was the sense of accomplishment. Maybe it was the weather feeling more appropriate for the time of year. Maybe it was not even being dressed for a hike and still wandering anyway. Maybe it was worrying that if I didn't get in a few miles that day, it'd be a while before I could again, because snow and ice and low temperatures were on the way, which meant mud season would be continuing for quite a while.
I don't know. I still don't. But getting a few more verified complete badges in addition to the Hiking Club trail was also a nice incentive. It was getting dark before noon, so once the winds started picking up, I left with 8 more miles to contribute to March's total and a far less sweaty experience than the day's prior adventure.
On May 30th, I had another rare day, because my bestie wanted to go hiking with me, and this seemed the best park available for mutual proximity. They were just starting to hike state parks, and I got them the Hiking Club booklet to entice them to keep going. Seeing William O'Brien in appropriate weather for the time was a wonderful accompanying atmosphere for the rare opportunity to spend time with my bestie, who has similar tendencies to overload on the schedule and activity front. They're a delight and I wish I had more time with them.
M and I weren't going for speed, although speed would've been easier since the wooded parts of the Hiking Club trail weren't sloshing in mud pits like March's endeavors. This was more about catching up and having a good conversation, especially since we both have the ability to speak truthfully and frankly to each other in ways that most can't to us. You need friends like that in your life, especially if you're neurodivergent like we are.
Admittedly, after I dropped them off for a completed Hiking Club trail of their own, I went back and knocked out verified complete badges on all the ones I didn't already have. Yes, I'm that bitch.
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