I’ve been home a week. I was definitely homesick – missing Lisa, the cats, and the durability of being in the same place. It is nice to bring the cooler end of Californian heat back to the UK. I’m sleeping a lot more than past 3 months. I’ve realised my exhaustion on trail was a Continue reading

The road trip down the Oregon and California coast was refreshing. Cooler sea air and fog made the temperatures bearable. Avenue of the Giants had me gawping at humongous trees. I was tickled that the local international airport was named after Charles M. Schulz. 11 days with Joe and Sai is pure bliss of eating, Continue reading

How many miles have I walked? 418 miles in the desert section from Campo to Acton Skipped up to Walker Pass at mile 665, avoiding 235 miles of the hottest part of the desert. Walked 278 miles through the Sierra to Tuolumne Meadows at mile 943. Skipped up to Ashland Oregon at mile 1720 to Continue reading

A lot has happened in the last few days, with the upshot that I’m off the trail for good. Although I was looking forwards to continuing, once I got underway it felt like a burden pretty quickly. Five days in Kenwood then two more in Ashland while heat and wildfire smoke subsided hadn’t fully reset Continue reading

A day indoors, though the temperature and air quality improve somewhat. A freshening wind blows the smoke away, though it fans the fires. These fires spread fast. The Shelly Fire 43 miles south of me went from nothing to 6200 acres in 6 days. Lots of resources being thrown at it with no effect yet. Continue reading

Sonoma Valley Airport for 0630. Joe got me here for 0600 then headed home. Glen is unable to get in due to the wildfire smoke. He diverts to Nut Tree Airport 37 mile drive ENE beyond Fairfield. Joe returns to pickup me up for discussion on whether to go or not. We drive 45 minutes Continue reading

A planned stroll in the local hills with Joe is not executed due to heat – it’s 36C here. The day is spent snoozing and planning to return to the trail. I decide to accept Glen’s offer of a flight north tomorrow morning. Joe agrees to get up at 5am to drive me 30 minutes Continue reading

This part of California usually has fog rolling in from the Pacific Ocean, mainly in the mornings. This pushes back the hotter inland air offering moisture and respite from the heat. We head to the coast in search of wet air. On the way there is a little matter of a football match. Sai is Continue reading

After the excellent party the day before, we shelter indoors with windows and doors closed and shades down to keep heat out; fans circulate the air inside. I catch up with news from the UK about the general election. Stepping outside to feed the chickens or get a cold one from the cooler is like Continue reading

We attend the Kenwood Parade. No photos as I was slightly overwhelmed by the numbers of people – I’ve got so used to the sparse backcountry populations. Anyway, there were cars, Rotary Club, Scouts, marching guards, National Anthem as the flag was raised. I’ve lost 12.5% of my starting body weight in 2 months – Continue reading