It is just awful as I write this. Today I left the lodge by 10 am. I walked down to the outfitters and had the clerk Pillsbury review my pack. I weighed in at 16 pounds base weight so there was not much more to get rid of, but leave it to Pillsbury, she found some oportunity! We got rid of some stuff sacks, my second t-shirt and a windbreaker. My biggest opportunity to loose weight is too get rid of my backup battery and get a smaller one. I have to think about that one. I want too be able to blog on the trail and to be able to listen to music or books on tape if I want to. I have not done much of that yet but it is so early in the trip that I just don't know what I will want to do once I get into a rhythem.
I got my larger men's version of my Altra shoes today via FedEx Shipping.
They felt good and on my hike today I did not feel any funny business from my blister. The blister is mostly healed thanks to my forced resting over the last few days. The black things an my legs are compression sleeves and they feel just great on my shin splints.
The post mistress helped me ship my boxes out. One box to home with gear I don't need and my bounce box to Warner springs. She was so nice and helpful. She is a horse rider and she has a trail name...it is Saddlebags.
They guys from the store were great and sent me off with good wishes
but also their phone number in case I need to call them for a pick up and a ride back into town. Strangely I was reluctant to leave, but there is no room at the inn! I left town at 3:30.
When James sent me my shoes, he also sent me some fresh tumeric.
I take turmeric pills for inflammation because I can not take ibuprofen and stuff, so the fresh turmeric was most welcome! I just chewed it raw as I hiked and gave my tongue a nice dye job.
Most folks hiking out of Mt Laguna at the end of the day head 6 miles up the trail to Laguna campground. It is $25 a night and has showers. I planned on staying at a little site nearby under a pine tree but it is so unbelievably windy that I had to change my plans.
I am down in a gully trying to get out of the wind. I have all my clothes on because it was too windy and too small a site to put my tent up. The wind just howls through and when a big gust comes, it blows right through my bag. Normally when I cowboy camp I nestle under a tree and then I don't get so much dew but tonight that was not possible. This could be a long and sleepless night! If the wind continues like this and the dew hits....brrrrr. The sunset was amazingly red and beautiful. There are some clouds in the sky. If a rain hits, I am in a waterway and will be in trouble. I can always get up in the night and pack up and move camp but that would be miserable. I am counting on a lot of luck tonight. And please wind....settle down a bit! I tried to open my Bot to cold soak my breakfast but the darn thing would not open. I worked on that thing like a stubborn bottle of pickles but could not get it to budge. Finally I had the bright idea to press on the gasket with my fingernail. A great rushing of air came out and the lid forcefully flew off. I suspect that I closed the lid and then the air pressure dropped (the wind blew in and the change of weather happened) and there was an big pressure difference between the inside and outside of the Bot. Crazy and interesting but man am I glad I got the lid off.
My shin does not feel great. I think I will know more in the morning and I will make a full assessment then. I really took it slow for my 6 miles assessment and I used my hiking poles just like my physical therapist friend told me to. I am praying that is enough to allow my shins to heal while I continue to hike.
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