Days 16-19

Day 16: 17 Miles (218.5-235.5)

It is currently 7:18pm and I am in my tent and sleeping bag trying to stay awake while I write this.

Today was tough, 12 miles of mission creek, which was just washed up river bed from a hurricane a few years ago. It was tough on the knees, feet and brain.

This is my second night alone. Not really alone, as there are a few other folks at the site too, but away from my group. I'm enjoying the time to myself. Walking through the rocks in the 82 degree heat today I got hit with a wave of yearning for home? Not sure the right word. All I could think about was being in a bed, sleeping past 6am, drinking fresh coffee, driving to the store whenever I wanted. It somehow made me even more grateful to be out here.

Day 17: 16.7 Miles (235.5-252.2)

I treated myself to a sleep-in today. I got started around 8am and had some of the toughest 4 miles to date. Once out of mission creek, I had lunch and pushed another 12 miles until I hit the road and hitched into big bear.

Mango got a room in one of the hostels and I was able to crash. I had the best GF pizza I've ever had, a vodka soda and I'm now in bed at 8:12 with no alarm set. Tomorrow is a full zero in town where I'll re-supply and also help the girl who gave me a hitch Into town move some heavy boxes as a thank you.

Day 18: 0 Miles

Today I picked up the resupply boxes my brother mailed me (shoutout Suggs). Then I went to the grocery store and got the rest of the items, as I was shipping ahead 2 boxes to smaller stops. We found really cheap food at the grocery outlet, including $3 steaks that were expiring today.

We made the steaks, had fresh bell peppers and cut up some sweet potatoes for a delicious meal. We then went to the bar where all the hikers were singing karaoke and it was fun to see folks I had met along the trail as we all bottleneck in town.

Day 19: 2 Miles (266.1-268)

Today was tough, 22% recovery (out of 100) on my whoop band. Zero days in town are probably meant to recover, not be hungover.

I went out and hiked 2 moles and found a campsite to myself and listened to the guardians game then slept.