I have hiked 52.5miles in the past 5 days!

Today is April 30, 2014: It was so windy on the trail that many hikers opted to get off and/or seek shelter.  I hiked 10 miles today and then Moira picked me up.

Fire landscape in Cleveland National Forest.

Blackened trees that reminded me of McComas, WV, where I volunteered with the JVC in 1980.  Only those trees were blackened from coal dust.

Note the Wind - There were gusts up to 70 miles per hour today 

 This a pic of the "dinosaur" pine-cone.  Note the spikes.  Yikes!

Today is April 29-  I weighed the pack- it was 38 lbs.

 free hiker box- hikers leave stuff along the way- anything you can think of
They are around the area and you can see Moira rummaging through to see if there anything Jean could use.(or for her..)  Maybe Moira is practicing for dumpster diving- who knows?

I hiked in an area where in 2009 a cobra helicopter mission went down in training.  There was a sign to stay on the trail- there was live ammunition around.

It was a hard 11 miles, because the pack was heavy and the winds were at around 40 miles per hour.  I couldn't keep my hat on.  It was slow going.  Limbs were coming down from trees.

I took a long lunch and decided not to sleep out tonight.  As I was walking, I kept thinking about how lucky I am to be in all of this nature and beauty.

Monday, April 28, 2014- Today I hiked 11 miles. Andy only wanted to go with me!
It was very hot and I got started a little later than I probably should have.  But you know me! It was 80 degrees but felt much, much hotter. I keep seeing familiar faces which is a comfort.

Moira met me at the end and we scoped out the camp grounds for tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be my first night in my tent.  I did see some snakes but they let me pass.

Trail going under highway I-8

Sunday, April 27:  I hiked 18 miles today.  I passed alot of beautiful wild flowers.  These are yuccas.  The last 5 miles were challenging, but the fun thing was that I came down to the campground, everyone was rushing out to greet me.  Shouting out like I was finishing a race!  People offered me beers (which I did not drink- really). And, the medical doctor asked how I was doing.  Turned down the beers and appreciated the cheers.

The temp was 66 and there was cool breezes.  I hiked in a t-shirt and long pants.

At one point, I was letting some people pass me.  Some hikers named me "greeter".  This is now my trail name.  Call me GREETER

The logistics team was hard at work before I left.  I arrived in San Diego on Friday, April 25 and met Moira.  We met Ernie for lunch in a great restaurant and watched Ernie drink like a fish- not bad for 95 years old. Then we shopped for some things at the REI store and headed for rest at the hotel by the trail head.

Saturday, April 26 was day 1-  I hiked a short way and then went to the hiker's kick off party! Heard a lecture and got 3 pairs of free socks- score! I am signing the register at the southern terminate at the very beginning of the trail.  The road behind me is the wall built at the border-Mexico is on the other side.  It is very wet, cold and damp so it was a short day.

Still in training.  I leave for the west coast on Friday!