Day 28: Interurban Trail (North), Everett to McCollum Park and back

Highlights:

It’s time for another 7-day summary before I describe Day 28. 

After the first 28 days, I would have walked 433 miles (really walked 443) from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Hospital Alta da Cruz, Spain. I have completed just over 91% of the Camino de Santiago to the popular destination of Santiago de Compostela and over 80% if I were to do the additional 73 miles to the Coast.  As you can tell, I have been rethinking my ultimate destination.  I realize that I have hit a  very real Camino wall as I see the light at the end of this tunnel.

If I were doing the real Camino, Day 28 would have taken me from Barbadelo to Hospital Alta da Cruz where I would have crossed the long bridge to Portomarin, visited a fortress-church, and traversed small villages.

Day 28 on my Fauxmino ended up being somewhat disturbing, if not bizarre.

I arrived at what was reported to be the Interurban North Trailhead in Everett in a tiny parking lot whose first two spaces were taken up by a homeless person’s tent. What seemed like the obvious trail starting point had google maps yelling at me for going the wrong way and I couldn’t figure out how to start.  

I decided to explore the path in front of me and a distraught but not frightening younger man who was searching the bushes wished me a good morning and asked me if I could keep an eye out for his bicycle that someone stole last night.  I said I would but suspected there was little chance.  I next heard a friendly “on your left” coming from behind me and was passed by a middle aged gentleman riding an old no-gear bicycle with a wooden box filled with what appeared to be his possessions bolted on the front and a large plastic garbage bin attached with bungee cords on the back.  As I continued the path, an elderly couple, one with a walker, walked slowly by me and nodded a solemn good morning.

The path led to the Lowell Riverfront Trail, a 1.75-mile forested loop beside a glassy calm river backed by misty views of the Cascade Mountains and the giant Mount Baker

I chose McCollum Park in Everett as my destination to make today's target mileage. I headed back to the parking lot and followed Google.  With one small exception, the majority of “the trail” took me on residential roads with small homes showing pride of ownership on treeless lots, several adult family homes with strange lawn statues, and  manufactured home parks intermingled with a surprising number of car repair shops.  After being on what was really a trail for less than a mile, Google led me to Silver Lake (another potential kayaking candidate), about a mile from McCollum Park.

The park was (and I’m being kind here) boring with flat sprawling lawns.  To be fair, I didn’t explore the walking paths on the outskirts because my feet were starting to complain loudly.  The fact that the park had porta potties made up for its unexceptional scenery.

So now we come back to that Camino wall I mentioned above.  I was tired, some of the chronic sore spots on my feet were suddenly feeling more acute and I had 6.6 miles left to return to my car.  Google pointed the way but gave me a “shorter option” and I couldn’t resist.  I wish I had.

Before I knew it, I was in the middle of two highways, I-5 and 527, and the only option I seemed to have was to go onto the highways. (Yes, I saw the no pedestrian sign.)  So (and this is where everyone can yell at me), I did.  I trudged 2 miles on the wide shoulder of I-5 heading to the exit where I knew I could find my car again.  Google stopped working (“rerouting”) and I walked very fast (feet no longer hurt, body no longer tired), expecting sirens and lights to come up behind me and arrest me for being the idiot that I am.

Instead, after 45 minutes continuing to ask myself how I could be this stupid at this age, a shiny SUV pulled over to the shoulder and a lovely tattooed and body pierced young couple asked me if I wanted a ride.  We all had masks on and I said: “just off the exit would be fine” – remember, I am crazy.  They gently suggested instead that they drive me to my car (code for the funny farm for crazy highway walking old ladies) and I gratefully accepted.  

In the car, I told them about my Fauxmino (“That’s crazy” they both said), and how many miles I had done today (“That’s crazy” they both said).  They told me about their 8 week old weiner dog puppy who doesn’t bark and is very obedient.  I thanked them for being good Samaritans and promised I wouldn’t highway hike every again.  I don't think they believed me. 

When I got home, my feet looked as bad as they felt with two infected areas.  I decided that Day 29 would have to wait.

Time for some self-reflection.  I chose to do this or, as my friend Carol says: “There is only one dog in this fight.”  I want to finish because, well, I am a finisher.  However, I have decided that I want to feel accomplished, not beaten by this adventure and have reframed my definition of finish to be making it to the equivalent of Santiago de Compostela, another 40.84 miles, instead of adding an additional 73.2 miles to make it to the coast (or, the foot hospital). 

I am going to plan another 3-5 days of returning to my favorite trails and wrapping up with a walking exploration of Vashon Island, a short ferry ride across Seattle’s Puget Sound. I’m telling myself this is not admitting defeat but reality.  I did not know my feet could talk but their message has become very clear, reminding me that this has always been about the journey, not the destination. 

Thanks for listening to today’s story.  I intend to enjoy the last steps of MO's Faux Camino and end with a celebration of what I have learned on this pilgrimage. Until next time, ¡Buen Camino!