31 Jul, 2014
In search of the perfect trail (a page from my camping journal)
Posted by andrea tomkins in: travel talk
Tuesday p.m.
An incredibly mosquito-laden hike left us hot, exhausted, and dispirited. I assumed Owen Point Trail would be less buggy than Jobes’ Woods, but I was dead wrong.
We doused ourselves with bug spray (Muskol: 30% DEET) and went in with optimistic hearts, open to any surprises that lay in store. Within the first 100m of the trail they descended… a roiling cloud of blood sucking predators and we were the only target in sight.
The reason I wanted to hike this particular trail is that it’s close to Gull Island, a bird breeding area that’s closed to the public. The trail guide promised meadows and scenic views of water. What we got was a bushwhacked trail through 8ft high grasses, hundreds of frogs leaping across the trail in feeble attempts not to get squashed, and millions upon millions of mosquitoes.
I learned a valuable lesson. No matter how much bug spray you use, they will find the spot you missed.
We reached the halfway point and I halfheartedly snapped a couple of photos. It’s hard to do when you’re busy swatting and scratching and cursing.
At this point we double-backed to the car, jogging at times, in hopes of outrunning the mosquitos. As we reached the car we collapsed in our seats, grateful for the shelter.
