The night before the big date...

I have a date tomorrow... We have yet to actually meet, But for years we have been flirting.

I have done all the norm: Stalking religiously on the internet to the point where I feel I have known him forever. Hearing testimonies from ex-lovers... Primping, preparing and even some pruning... Trying my best to quell expectations.

I know he is dirty and sometimes cold. I know his ups and downs will push me to the edge. I know he has a history of enticing so many in and relentlessly spitting them out. Yet... I am so swayed by his promise that I cannot stay away.

But as I lay here the night before the big meeting... My outfit meticulously laid out... My handbag all packed... I can’t help but wonder the usual... What will we become?

Will it be a one night stand or a quick spring fling, where he leaves me battered and broken? Will he be the one In my dreams? Can I last the distance of such a romance? Will we ebb and flow together, giving and taking from each other as we both grow stronger and wiser with time?

I suspect there will times of hot and heavy intermingled with my complete disgust at the way he tries my patience and loyalty.

I think for now... as my lids grow heavy enjoying the last comforts of manufactured warmth and my bed..

All I can do is hope that wherever our journey together parts... I can look back for once and say without hesitancy or regret... I am better because he was a part of my life.

I have a date tomorrow... I will finally be meeting him, the trail.

Southern Terminus to Hauser Creek Mile 0 - 15.4

The day started off with a 2.5 hour drive and doing a little trail angel work by picking up a hiker that needed a ride from San Diego - Sean. So we arrived at the border around 8:00 am. It was overcast and sprinkling and super chilly - but good spirits were everywhere.

Charlie and I walked down and tagged the wall - took a few pics at the terminus with Tim (who I had met online and for coffee a few weeks ago) and Sean and said goodbye. Have I mentioned how great he is to be supporting my endeavor, even though it means housing stinky hikers caught in a snowstorm near us last week, life without my daily smile and him not being able to come along.

We hiked in the drizzle for most of the morning - at mile 3 - we met Andrea (25, grad student at Berkeley) and Gabriel (45, hair stylist from San Diego), now Warp Drive and Scout. I decided to hike along with them since I wanted to reach Hauser Creek and Sean and Tim weren’t going as far.

We chatted and hiked through the beautiful Southern California landscape - I’d call it “fertile desert” -lots of green, lots of sand, lots of different little ecosystems.

At lunch, we stopped and wanting a little time to myself to reflect - Scout and Warp Drive moved along. As I was sitting enjoying the view, Andrea #2 , who I had connected with prior on Instagram, was coming up the path - both being moms and 42 - I was excited to be able to walk with her and actually get to know her.

We soon caught up with the others and made it to Hauser Creek Canyon at about 4:30.

Overcast, drizzle and new friends - was a great first day for this journey - the miles went by quickly, the water sources were scarce and it was nice to not have the sun beating down.

We made some new friends at camp - which was great because we had barely seen any other hikers all day.

Personally, I was glad to have reached my goal for the day - I wanted to be in place to do the climb up to Lake Morena in the morning and it happened and as I was falling asleep I thought I am not even that sore.....