Started my day stopping for a very large donut before we left San Diego, the drive wasn't bad. Had my start photoshoot. Decided I needed to touch the border wall so I crossed the fence that clearly many had just as border patrol was driving up on their ATV. I sprinted to the wall and back with no incident. Saying goodbye to my sister was harder than expected. I won't likely see her until September or october. Then I was off. Then at .6 I met the welcome wagon of sorts Legend and mark. Got some advice I didnt really need then was made fun of for saying I'd use my umbrella in the rain as there is no rain in southern California this time of year (Forshadowing). Sone of the first hikers I meet are surprisingly foreigners from the UK and France. Lemming, one of the Brits asked if I'm thin mint because of my mint colored shirt, so that's gonna be a thing. Lol. Camped with Kemo, tom the aussie, herb and maddie and the brits at mile 11.4.

Did an easy 9 miles in to lake morena.I had that first real moment of zen around 7 this morning, just so happy to be out here. I was walking a dirt road downhill as the sun was coming up and just took it all in.There was confusing signage and I took the wrong turn. I'm now .2 or so missing of the trail. Oh well. Sadly the wrong signage lead to getting lost trying to find the malt shop. I finally arrive and realized I'd lost$20 so to mitigate that loss I only order fries instead of thr burger meal then after eating I found the $20 and regret not ordering burger. It looked great, I had to watch 4 other hikers enjoy theres. Went down to the campsite for pct hikers and to a Siesta with the internationals whilet letting stuff dry (moisture on my tent). Camped at mile 26 and was excited to get my first trail magic of a hot dog and a beer.

Today was nearly all up hill, a steady all day. Up to 6000 feet. It was completely different terrain from the dessert I've been in with beautiful pine trees. The plan to camp about 2 miles from town, but had major fomo and decided to go in to mt laguna. I'm glad I did. I walked in with Kyle and discovered we have very little time to get to the store before it closes. Doesnt stop me from grabbing some trail magic beers first frokm some weekend campers. Made it to the store as they were locking up and I slipped in to buy a banana and a few dinners to supplement to the next stop (very overpriced). Next is dinner, which is also about to close. Made it in just in time. Had a burger and fries and it was great. We had a huge group.. very glad to have made it to town to leArnold of the coming rain tomorrow. Might be all day and maybe snow.

I got up at 6:00 am and had to decide what to do. Option 1 zero stay "in town" (a lodge, campsite, grocery, and tavern . Option 2 press on in the rain. Option 1 would be costly as I'd want a room to split at 128 a night, buy micrleave meals or trail food to eat as the restaurant is not open today and no where to hang out til check in. Option 2 I have a wind jacket and a useless umbrella in the wind with expected all day rain, 20+ mile per hr winds, and poor water options. I weigh the pros and cons and hope that 35 % chance of rain leans towards no rain... Big mistake and huge regret. The rain is endless all day and the winds are well over 20 mph with gusts of 30 to 40 mph. The temps were in the 40s. And my water resistant jacket wetted out within the first hour. Luckily I had a warm fleece and just kept moving the whole time. After 13 miles at 2:30pm I was done. I called it a day and put up my tent at the next flat spot I found with little wind. I took off all my wet stuff and it took over an hour to stop shivering. The rest of the afternoon I let myself drain my phone playing games and listening to podcasts. Passed the 50 mile mark. 2nd worst day on trail ever.

Wow, was that a bad night sleep. That light wind spot became very windy. At times I worried about the stability of my tent. The rain and wind finally stopped around 5am and I stayed in bed till 8 when I thought the sun was up enough to dry my wet clothes as i walked. I still couldn't manage to wear my freezing wet pants. Despite the rough night it was a great morning, Mostly down hill. All my wet clothes save my pants dried and I made some serious miles. No real great places to stop and have a siesta to dry my tent and pants. I Finally found a place around 3pm near water. Bad news though, the water is 1 mile down hill and 1 mile up. I need the water though so I make the trek. As soon as I get up the hill and prep to lay out my stuff to dry rain clouds roll in. We have a short 20 minute burst of rain. I sit with my pack packed up next to me safe with me pack liner keeping things dry as I sit in my rain pants (should have used yesterday) and umbrella. I'm perfectly dry after and I finally have the chance to dry my tent and get up and moving at 5pm for another 2 miles to mile 70.1

Short hiking day. The plan Is to Nero in julian/stagecoach. I hike the super easy 7 miles in and as I'm about to hitch a ride in with fell hiker Matt a trail angle "Rangel" drives up and offers to take us in. In julian I get the famous free pie and hot chocolate, amazing and so worth it. Get a couple snacks, a burger for lunch and a sandwich for dinner and spend a couple hours getting to know new trail friends matt and jedi. Matt and I get a ride to stagecoach and we share the cost of a load of laundry and shower up. I'm a new woman now. Matt hits the trail but as it's only $3.5 more to camp here and my body needs the rest I opt to stay. I expected more hikers to show up, but after the store here closes this place feels like a ghost town. Luckily the laundry room has a library and I pick up a jack reacher novel to read for the evening. I also picked up a new sun hat in the hiker box (washed in the laundry). All and all good day. Pretty sure there is a bubble of hikers right behind me that holed up at mt.laguna during the rain. Hoping to meet some new folks soon.