Was a very chill day. Mood was still a bit gloomy, but nothing a few Handmaid Tale and Shrill episodes couldn’t fix. Had a lot of supporting phone calls from friends and family. Made a plan to go to LA the next day to hang with my friends who took me to the trailhead. Very grateful for them and their couch. Crazy to think originally they were 3 hours away and now they are only 1! Ready to chill and eat a bit more.

Woke up in the Beaumont Motel 6 feeling somewhat discouraged, but ready to get to LA and get this healing process going.

I whistled for a cab and when it came near, the license plate said fresh, and had a dice in the mirror... to get to the bus stop and on the way my ex who’s on the CDT gave me a ring. We haven’t really caught up with one another since we both started our thru hikes. I told him what was going on and all that good stuff. He actually had some awesome words of encouragement, especially because he’s done the PCT before. Basically saying that one week off won’t really make a difference, and to just exist back on trail and let everything happen, don’t worry about a trail family, and just stop worrying all together. Easier said than done, but I really enjoy the “just exist” part of that conversation. So once these feet get right, I’ll set them on rocket mode and we will be out of here.

Until then, chilling with my friend Sarah and Jake, who originally took me to the southern terminus of the PCT. So grateful for them. This whole journey has really shown a different side of people and it’s only been a couple of weeks. Humbling and forgiving.