Kick off

After arriving I'm San Diego (after 2 margaritas in the Las Vegas airport) and meeting my dad, I was excited to see him. Also a little insta-hung over. Luckily he had an airport drink as well. We went to REI so he could get some basic gear. Luckily I questioned his sleeping pad, or "air mattress" as he calls it, because the guy at the store gave him a heavy car camping pad. No bueno for someone who wants to hike the john muir trail. We went to a grocery store and bought too much fresh snack food, then proceeded to the liquor and beer store. This is when my lack of sleep became disorientation and I asked myself whilst looking at the plentiful beer options... "What state am I in?" Well after a moment of serious confusion thinking I was maybe in Colorado, I snapped out of my space daze and realized where I was... A china town of sorts in San Diego California. We then went to a dumpling restaraunt an old friend from grade school told me to go to. It was good. I like Asian food. They had no bathroom. Still in a daze of sorts, we headed to the lake morena camp ground and rolled in around 9. This is when all my jitters kicked in. As I looked at the GPS I wanted the car to just keep driving and never arrive at the kick off party. So many new people in a community I am a noob in, checking in as a thru hiker, setting up my shelter and remembering what it's like to camp. (On a side note it's been too Long since I've slept outside.) I'm ready. But starting to really feel all my fears and excitement come to a head.

When I got out of the car I couldn't help but jump skip and let out a loud giggle all at once. It was the most natural reaction, just like my nerves. A laugh that was mocking my irrational anxieties about everything and nothing. Walking up to the registration booth light by white Cristmas lights, being greeted by a little girl who goes by "bear bait" and being given a squeeze bottle for the purpose of a bidet or "ass blaster" as others call it... My nerves dissipated. Everything is going to be just fine. I feel comforted, welcomed, not afraid.

This morning for the yoga by the rocks, I had no ground sheet or makeshift yoga mat- I figure why not get dirty now. Well I didn't get dirty but I pretty much rolled around in straight up fox tail weed grass. I collected these little prickly seed weeds in my long underware. A lot of them. Infinite seeming. I am still trying to remove all the remnants of this silly mistake I will never make again. 

Note to future self: don't roll around in fox tail ever! 

Later today I went to the shakedown with my packed pack. If was neat. As I exploded my pack and sat amongst all my gear I've collected over the past 3 months, I looked up to three lovely ladies taking notes. I felt flattered. 

I had food for 6 days. I only need food for two really because I'm going south of here to the border to start hiking on Sunday. From there to where I am now is 20 miles. Planning on doing 15 the first day and 5 miles back here to raid a hiker box and keep going. 

I was pretty proud of my jam packed hiking system and organization. I had thought of everything, and too much of it. My pack was embarrassingly heavy with all that food. With help of a new friend "Salsa" I got my pack down to 18 LBS total, with food and fuel and just one liter of water. (I will be carrying up to 6 L at a time). I ditched my blow up pillow, my pack towel, my silk jammy layers, rain pants, pack cover, a pair of "sleep socks"... What else... My mirror, Imodium, antibiotics for lord knows, matches, 3 chapsticks... Can't think of what else but I wasn't too attached to anything. Except for my warm hat! I'm keeping that item to make me feel cozy god damnit! I am so grateful for my shakedown experience.

I am currently in my tarp on the second night of this kick off and hear a drunk hiker saying to another drunk hiker "dude you're gonna roll your ankle" and "oh look who's the LNT master!" And hearing trail names being yelled like "tinkerbell" and "snake farm". Lol. 

I also have a lip pimple that I can see protrude when I look down. I am ready to build up my protective layer of anti pimple absorbing wilderness beauty skin. Have to go through the awkward breakthrough transition phase first. 

Okay I have said enough! Good night world.