I had a lot of loose ends to sew up this morning. So, despite being tired, I got cracking on my blog and a few other things. Erin left for rehearsal, so while she was gone I headed to the post office to figure out my passport renewal.
When I walked in I immediately saw signs pointing me to the passport center, a small room adjacent to the main desk area. At the door to the center was a ticket machine, so I grabbed a number and sat down. I figured I would fill out an application as I waited, but the organizer marked "passport applications" was empty. Though there was a counter with a computer in the room, no employees were around. I decided that they must just do it once your number is called. The wait certainly took long enough to support that theory. When the man finally came to call the next customer he asked who was next. Everyone had tickets, but the "now serving customer number..." device was turned off. I wondered at the logic. He led me to a counter in the other room before saying "your hands are empty" in a reproachful tone. I asked what it was I was supposed to have. He told me I needed an application and my old passport. I pulled out my old passport and told him (in an equally reproachful tone) that there were no applications left. He said that they weren't kept in the other room, as it was just a waiting room. I looked meaningfully at the three or four signs that said "passport center," pausing my gaze meaningfully on each one in turn. He didn't seem to notice or care. He pulled an application from behind the counter and gave it to me. He then explained I would have to mail it in. I bit my tongue and thanked him before walking out. So here is the process: go to the website, which will tell you to go to the post office. Go to the post office, which will direct you to the passport center. Search for an application and, when there are none, leave the passport center and return to the regular postal customer line. Wait in line to get an application before returning to the passport center. Get called back into the other room with a completed application so that a disinterested employee can tell you to go mail it. Return to mail line to mail it. Try to keep from becoming a giant green rage machine (my awesome girlfriend took me to see Avengers).
So anyway, I have no passport, which means no permit to enter Canada and no legal way to get back. I'm working on it as I go, though. I'll keep you posted.
The Hendersons took me out to one last delicious lunch before driving me back to the trail. The whole family turned out, which made me very happy. For all the food and rest, entertainment and healing that I've been doing at their house, it is the mental balm that has helped the most. It was the same when I visited my parents in Shell Beach. I miss having family and a home, and for one week the Hendersons treated me like one of their own. I felt like I had a place to belong, which I sorely miss out here on the trail. Of course, getting back on the trail was every bit as hard as I thought it would be. The hiking wasn't difficult, with the trail mostly undulating in and out of shallow valleys for the ten miles I made it. Still, my body was used to rest and pampering and didn't break in easily. Worse, I missed friends and family, and was plagued by doubts about my ability to finish the trail. That's pretty standard after zero days, but being standard makes it no less easy to deal with.
I stopped with the sun high so I could get back into a regular sleep pattern. Besides, I have 130 miles to the next resupply, and if I hike too much I'll get there on the weekend when the post office is closed. I'll be taking it easy, with days of 20 to 25 miles. Right now I'm enjoying leftovers from last night that Erin and her mom bagged for me. I have her mom's pasta, which is to die for, and a brownie Erin baked for me. I'm regretting not stealing some of the caesar salad Erin made, or her dad's ribs, which were perfectly seasoned and falling off the bone. Mmmm...
By the way, happy belated fathers day! I called my dad but missed him, and forgot to try again later in the day.
That's all for now.
