My shins are not better. I awoke to pain. In fact the discomfort kept me from sleeping some of the night. I realize that I can't go on to the next section. It's just too rough and too long of a stretch between water sources. On the plus side it is a beautiful day today. It is 60 degrees and breezy and I will spend the day resting in the sun. The lodge is still full so I will just hang out and camp out for another day.
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| This is where I spent most of my day! |
Last night was an exercise in survival. The wind blew all night until the very early morning. No rain though and for that I am grateful. I had some dew on my bag at about 2:30 in the morning but by 6 a.m. everything was dry. I broke camp and moved to a sunny spot long before the first hiker passed through. I learned some things about camping last night though. I learned that if I take my raincoat and stuff it in the bottom of my sleeping bag it will help with the wind penetration and keep my feet warmer. I also learned that if I take my bandana and cover my eyes from the moonlight but leave the bandana loose and draping on my face, it will keep my face warm from the bitter wind.
I called James this morning (I have the most wonderful reception on this ridge I am resting on) and he made some phone calls for me. A friend of his owns a house in Palm Desert (his family owns it) and he is willing to let me stay there for a week. So, I am just going to take a break for a week and resume when I am healed. This is so hard for me, I want to be moving but I know a woman who hiked the PCT last year and she got shin splints early on. She took a week off and then resumed and she finished the hike. So, this does not mean my hike is over, it just means that it looks different from what I had in mind and so I can adjust by being flexible and patient. This is my life lessons today!
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| I found this squirrel tail under my tree as I was stretching and doing yoga. It blended in with the grass so completely that I almost missed it. |
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| Beautiful Lupin with an entire family of ladybugs. |
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