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Update 4: Twiddling Fingers at Home in Michigan!

Roadblock 4: That is correct! I am injured and recuperating in Michigan at home. On Saturday May 1, while walking on a simple flat terrain, my left foot stumbled on the rock and in the process, my right foot got excessively stretched at the heel (where I had Plantar issues in the past!). I somehow reached a crossroad three miles away, and promptly retreated to Tejas’ home in DC! I attempted to walk on the trail on Monday (May 3) but could not proceed for more than 500 ft. Finally on Wednesday (May 5), I managed to walk for 5.5 miles, but did reinjure the heel again. After a visit to Podiatrist in DC and a quick cortisone injection, I am now healing back in Michigan for 15 days as per the doctor’s advice.

However frustrating this incidence may be, it is a part of the Appalachian Trail saga. A large number of hikers get injured, they back off from the trail, recuperate and then resume the trail. Oh well, I join that club now!

My hike after reinjury on Wednesday (May 5th) was one of the toughest hikes I have done in a long time. I was navigating through the so-called 13-mile “Roller-Coaster” section of the trail. It was pouring hard that morning, every rock and root on the trail had become a playground slide, and my body was working extra-hard to compensate for the injured leg. But even then, some funny incidents happen! I suddenly came across parents with a 6-year-old child on the trail. Before any of them could complain about the rain, I gave this child a high-five and told her to pull the tongue out. After drinking three drops fallen on the tongue directly from the sky, I declared to her that it is a magic potion. It will make her happy just like surrounding trees and I promised this giggling child that she will start jumping within one hour. That same magic potion did not make me jump. But it did keep me safe without any fall.

Prior to the above drama, I had moved further north in Virginia from the Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah trail was like an IT professional, with trimmed beard, designer glasses and business casual attire. Trail has many fancy, smooth crossroads, soft ground, gradual climbs and wildflowers that are properly lined up on the trail. Once one leaves Shenandoah though, the trail suddenly becomes like a thru hiker itself. Trees grow in all directions like a beard, rain-drenched ruggedness was like well-developed trail legs of the hikers and then there were blown-down trees and zero sophistication of any kind all over the trail. But the foliage was fresh green, you hear constant chirping of migratory birds and frequent streams ensured water supply for my sweaty body.

Roller Coaster in North Virginia

And in this rugged terrain, I got picked up by my first hosts.

I met Varun Chitnis on the AT special group on Facebook and had NEVER met him or his parents before this visit. Although he is half of my age, he has taste in literature and music that matched my liking, and our friendship clicked. I was hosted by his parents in a Virginia suburb. Oh My God, I cannot even start describing all the food that Prachi (Varun’s mom) had made for me for the evening. In a traditional Indian way, I literally could easily imagine her to be the “Annapurna” (The Goddess of Food). And then we all talked and talked and talked as if we knew each other for a long time. I got goosebumps when Varun sang a song of Tulaja Bhavani (A Goddess from the Western India) with his raw, open and edgy voice (That song is enclosed here). And then Shirish (Varun’s Dad) told me a story of his parents. They fought against the British in the Indian freedom struggle. Like many other freedom-fighters, they swore not to talk about their story, as they felt that they were just doing their duty.

That night was a sleepless night for me! I could count so many of my privileges, all because of the heroes like Shirish’ parents. Hikers had always talked about the Appalachian Trail as a “pilgrimage”. I had no idea that I would have a detour of my pilgrimage through Chitnis’ home.

दिव्यत्वाची जेथ प्रचिती, तेथे कर माझे जुळती!
यज्ञी ज्यांनी देऊनी निज शीर, घडिले मानवतेचे मंदिर
परी जयांच्या दहन भूमीवरी, नाही चिरा नाही पणती
तेथे कर माझे जुळती ! by बा.भ. बोरकर

(Where the flame of divinity glows, there I join my hands in prayers.
Those who sacrificed their head in creating a temple of humanity,
But at whose funeral sites, there is no candle and no headstones.
There, I join my hands in prayers! by Baa. Bha. Borkar)

Tulaja Bhavani song by Varun Chitnis
CategoriesAT

42 Replies to “Update 4: Twiddling Fingers at Home in Michigan!”

  2. I am truly amazed at your perseverance and remaining focused at your goal in spite of any difficulties that come your way. Hope you heal soon and get back on your amazing adventure. All the best.

    Reply

    1. गुरूदेव, शतशः प्रणाम. ही आनंदयात्रा बालिका व्यत्ययानंतरही अशीच सुरू राहणार आहे ह्याची खात्री आहे.

      Reply

  4. Nitin, you have indeed started your pilgrimage….. what nice description as always and felt like we were there with you walking on the trail and at the Chitnis abode….. Tulja Bhavani aarti is really very enchanting…. thank you for sharing .
    Get well and ready for the trail again very soon . All The Best👍👍🙏🏼

    Reply

  5. Roller coaster sounds like Katraj Sinhagad to me except on Katraj Sinhagad there are no trees….
    Get back into action slowly and cautiously Dadhi !!!

    Reply

  7. Glad to hear that you are doing well.

    Wishing you speedy recovery that way you can get back to trail at the earliest.

    All the best and please be safe.

    Reply

  9. Nitin, This shall also pass. You’ll soon be on your feet. It’s all part of AT, as in life. Wishing you speedy recovery.

    Reply

  14. Get well soon Nitin. May i suggest you to start each day with prayers to Lord Ganesha and Tulja bhavani for success ,safety and ask
    them for protection. My best wishes for speedy recovery and back on trail soon.

    Reply

  15. Ugh, I’m so sorry you are injured! There is much wisdom in taking a break to heal at home. Love your outlook and the ability to find the joy along the way, injury or not. We will be praying for complete healing, soon, so you may get back out there!! Blessings to you Nitin!!

    Reply

  18. Sorry to know about your injuries. Thanks for your kind words. Only one thing is true about the story; that we talked and talked like we all knew one another since long. Thanks to the connect and the bond of the land we belong to.
    Get going soon. The mountains are calling you

    Reply

  21. Nitin, reminds me of the classic example of how, as a child, one can’t progress in cycling without falling off umpteen number of times and getting up with scraped knees and bleeding elbows. Difference now is of course age, but with your approach and outlook, I guess you have time warped that! Can’t help but write about another roller coaster… the name of a rapid on the Ganga near Rishikesh where a raft is likely to flip and give a tumultuous dunking to all, beginners and experts. ‘गंगेत घोडं न्हालं’ म्हणाचं आणि म्होरं व्हायचं😉 . Good wishes to you, Sir. And I’m sure that that little girl will always welcome the rains with her tongue sticking out, Dadhi-an fashion!

    Reply

  25. Nitin, your story’s inspiration potential continues to grow with each episode! Your experience with the Chitnis family gave me goosebumps! They are your trail angles! Heard Varun’s song of Tulaja Bhavai, wow! Nice Varun!!

    May her blessings be with you Nitin, always!!

    Reply

  29. नीतीन,
    खूप गर्व वाटतो, तुझ्या मनस्वी धेय्याचा.

    तरी एक सांगू का,
    कुठेही असं, अंतर्मनाचे ऐक!
    तो सल्ला खरा, अंतीम.. केवळ तुझ्या हीताचा

    Reply

  31. Well, you are on a trip, after all :-). Wishing you a speedy and full recovery to continue on your path.

    Reply

  33. All the Best Dadhi! are you now back on the Trail? काळजी घे!

    Reply

  35. What are those flowers looking like our Shakhasur? May be its family? Don’t know the name but they are very delicate.Do they have fragrance? The pictures are stunning.

    Reply

  36. Thanks a lot for all your wishes and blessings! Planning to be back on the trail on Monday (24th May) !

    Reply

  37. Hi Nitin,
    Best wishes for speedy recovery and next steps. Lage Raho!
    Regards,
    Anil R. Bhogesara

    Reply

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