Diary - Mile 444.

My first day off. After doing a couple of walking marathons and a 30 mile day, my legs need a rest. One day was 15 miles up. Just up. All the time. And then another 5 down and that day kicked my ass.

About a week ago there were natural hot springs on the way. Best. Siesta. Ever. You swim in the cold river, jump into a hot pool on the side of it, then back into cold. And the best part of it - slack line across the river. Now my legs look like I’m a physical abuse victim, and my stomach has a “medium rare” sunburn, but it was all totally worth it. And yesterday I walked knee first into a wooden fence at camp, just because I was too lazy to turn on my headlamp… so yes, a day off felt needed before I make more “great” decisions.

AND! I saw my first rattlesnake in the wild (I don’t count the one that leisurely slithered through a man’s backyard). I was prepared to declare that there are no rattlesnakes in the whole Southern California, but no, snakes aren’t a myth, they do exist.

Starting today, we’re switching to night hiking. I’m on the front porch of Mojave and it’s just a little bit too hot.