#about walking

I slept in today, stubbornly staying curled up in my sleeping bag until the sun was glaring unrelentingly into my tent and making the air uncomfortably hot. Looking at the clock, I see it's only 7:30 AM and I am thrilled to be up so early. I have never been a morning person and ideally would like to sleep until mid-morning every day. I congratulate myself and then realize that getting up at 7:30 AM makes me the lazy camper. Everybody is already up, eating breakfast, drinking coffee or setting out for the trail.

Today is an easy day. I only have to hike six miles before noon. I pack up and head out. There is a climb out of the campsite and I decide to get it out of the way and then settle down for breakfast after a few miles. It's warm already and the sun slants in under my hat as I move up the hill. My pack doesn't feel as heavy today and the weight settles easily on my back.

In a dry creek bed a couple miles in I stop and make coffee and cheddar grits. It's cool and shady and I sit under an oak enjoying the quiet of the spot, the wind blowing through the woods, the sound of insects and birds. It's lovely to eat and rest.

The next four miles go easily, moving North through the valley toward Interstate 8. I reach Boulder Oaks and lay in the shade on a picnic table, drinking water and waiting for my Mom and my Aunt. They are picking me up for the evening and tomorrow we will go to the annual PCT Kick-Off.The plan is to get pedicures, which seems an absurd thing to do before setting off to hike. Then again, walking from Mexico to Canada also seems absurd.

impulsive decisions often lead to bad things

but maybe I want to impulsively take my dog out for a walk