Hello sunshine!

May 19

...I'm thinkin the camp store/motel owner was trying to milk us ;) Beautiful blue sunny skies all day with a good cool wind all day to keep things from getting too hot.

Well today was a long one. First twenty-miler and I felt it! Thinking about the past couple of days as I labored through the last miles made me realize/remember what it takes to be a thru-hiker... Dealing with and pushing on through discomfort and the physical effort is a big part of it. It's an endurance test physically but much more so mentally. Finding joy in everything around you even when you're struggling is a way I deal with it.. Another is just knowing that the hardships are temporary and as long as it's not life threatening, endurable... Sometimes even enjoyable - always a reminder that you're alive :D It's weird but while I've had some worries about being prepared for this thing, I've also had a confidence that I will be able to do this, given the thru I already have under my belt. Thinking about that a little more today I realized that barring injury or an act of nature, I really don't have much doubt that I'll be in Canada in October. Kinda nice to realize... Now it just becomes a matter of doing it, one day at a time, and enjoying as much of what I see and experience along the wa. :)

Saw some fun stuff today; a cool horned lizard that I happened to catch sight of and get a pic of (sorry I'm not yet able to share all the pics I'm getting, maybe a some point down the trail), loads more flowers, rabbits, guessing squirrels (look diff in this area tho), some beautiful birds (including humming birds, a raptor of some sort - huge wingspan, ravens, and lots of other small birds of all sorts of colors), ..

Camped out in a canyon with a handful of others. One of them is from Government Camp in Oregon! She's tryin to get to Warner Springs by Sunday to celebrate her 30th but sounds like she's got some decent blister problems. Made me realize that I take for granted that I don't and really haven't on my hikes so far..

Well bed time yet again. I should be sleeping well tonight!!


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Location:Upper Chariot Canyon, mile 63.5