What started as a physical challenge transformed into a magical journey on the East Coast Trail for one retired US Military veteran.
Dave Martin of Ohio retired last year after 30 years of service. After hiking in the Yukon and B.C., he wanted to try eastern Canada so he came to Newfoundland and Labrador for the East Coast Trail.
After starting in Cappahayden and spending some 16 days on the trail, he ended up at the Community Hall in Pouch Cove on Saturday at the East Coast Trail Association’s Trail Raiser Community Hike.
The Trail Raiser Community Hike is the East Coast Trail Association’s largest fundraiser of the year and this year raised more than $103,000, topping their $100,000 goal.
Martin describes his time on the trail as “magical”.
He says he came for the trail to challenge himself physically and it morphed into something else. Martin learned a lot about the province and Canada and says the experience restored his faith in humanity—adding that he was offered rides and even a bottle of rum on a rainy day.
A fantastic turn out in Pouch Cove this afternoon for the @EastCoastTrail Annual Trail Raiser! The weather definitely isn’t putting a damper on the fun. @VOCMNEWS @VOCMBen pic.twitter.com/PIMva36k7r
— Gerri Lynn Mackey (@GerriLynnMackey) June 3, 2023
The story of how he ended up in Pouch Cove on Saturday is one of luck, but again, Martin chalks it up to more trail magic.
He says he was tired after doing 10-12 miles on the trail on Friday, so he simply knocked on a door, which happened to be the owner of the WaterWitch Restaurant in Pouch Cove, who catered Saturday’s Trail Raiser event.
She opened her doors, fed Martin, let him shower and do laundry before he made his way back out on the East Coast Trail. He calls the whole community “phenomenal”.
Martin says he’s not an emotional person but when sitting around the dinner table he found himself in tears when thinking about the generosity and outpouring of support from the community and people.
He’s already made plans to return next year with his family and wants to complete the trail from North to South.
