Skip to content

Being Joyous

– An Ordinary Wizard Girl on an Extraordinary Adventure –

  • Home
  • Read The Stories
    • Pacific Crest Trail
      • Washington
      • Flip Flopping
      • The Sierra
      • Desert Land
      • Pre-PCT
    • Camino de Santiago
      • Santiago > Finisterre
      • León > Santiago
      • Burgos > León
      • Saint Jean Pied de Port > Burgos
    • Everyday Living
    • Worldwide tales
  • Join the Adventure
  • Introducing Myself
  • Come Say Hello

Category: Washington

One Hundred Forty Six: 2,585.8km

September 29, 2018July 14, 2019Leave a comment

One hundred and forty six days. It bugs me deeper than I want to admit that it’s not a round number. It’s not a ‘neat’ number. It’s not pretty, tied up in a bow, divisible by ten or rounded to the nearest five. I mean, it could have been. We could have got here yesterday … Continue reading One Hundred Forty Six: 2,585.8km

One Hundred Forty Five: 2,564.4km

September 28, 2018July 14, 2019Leave a comment

Gosh, I've been sounding morose lately! Scribing these last days has been such a drag, and I realise how mopey I sound. It’s just... It’s all nearly over. This chapter really is very nearly complete. I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself as of the day after tomorrow. No more digging cat … Continue reading One Hundred Forty Five: 2,564.4km

One Hundred Forty Four: 2,544.4km

September 27, 2018July 13, 2019Leave a comment

The woods were quiet as I made my way south this morning. Light filtered through the canopy of leaves above me. Trees stood tall and solemn. A heavy hush muffled the sound my footsteps. Woods morphed into rainforest, with the lushest greens my eyes have seen. That photo isn’t filtered. None of these are. It … Continue reading One Hundred Forty Four: 2,544.4km

One Hundred Forty Three: 2,511.1km

September 25, 2018July 13, 2019Leave a comment

As far as nearing the end of this epic adventure goes, I’m doing pretty good. Even with waking up to a frozen tent. I’ve heard about other hikers waking up to frost and ice, but I hadn’t realised what that meant exactly. I guess I just hadn’t given it too much thought. Not until this … Continue reading One Hundred Forty Three: 2,511.1km

One Hundred Forty Two: 2,476.2km

September 24, 2018May 29, 2019Leave a comment

Yesterday was officially the first day of American fall (autumn), but it feels like winter has well and truly set in.  Yes, I was born in the middle of (Australian) winter, but I am NOT a winter baby. I was two weeks overdue, and Mumma ended up having to have a cesarean because I just … Continue reading One Hundred Forty Two: 2,476.2km

One Hundred Forty – Forty One: ZEROES

September 23, 2018May 29, 20192 Comments

Have we really been here for two whole days already? It doesn’t feel like long enough. We’ve watched five, maybe six movies. I don’t even know. I do know that I’ve had three baths - long ones! - since getting here. Piping hot water, magnesium bath salts, lavender oil... Oh yes. Trout Lake is where it's … Continue reading One Hundred Forty – Forty One: ZEROES

One Hundred Thirty Nine: 2,453.5km

September 21, 2018May 29, 20193 Comments

I'm of the opinion that full moons truly do affect people. I don't know what it is about them, but I know I always tend to feel a little wilder, a little less inhibited, a little more inclined to do crazy things. Like hike for twenty four hours straight to cover sixty five kilometers (or … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Nine: 2,453.5km

One Hundred Thirty Eight: 2,388.2km

September 20, 2018May 20, 20191 Comment

This is why I came out here in the first place: To push myself. To grow and learn. To chase after dreams, and make them come true. To make friends. To make memories. To live the absolute most glorious life I can. Those people lounging in the sun, with views of a crater lake, of … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Eight: 2,388.2km

One Hundred Thirty Seven: 2,377.2km

September 19, 2018May 17, 20192 Comments

I haven’t taken so many photos in a single day in my entire time on trail. Probably ever in my entire life. I keep trying to write about it, but I always tend to flick between photos to tell the story of what any single day entails, and this time it’s giving me anxiety: I … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Seven: 2,377.2km

One Hundred Thirty Six: 2,355.3km

September 18, 2018May 13, 20193 Comments

Liza stopped by before we left this morning: not only with 2Beers' phone and Nemo's lighter, but with stickers and keyrings as little mementos. She went so far as to realise we were conscious of every gram we carry, but still wanted to give us something to remember her by. As if we could ever … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Six: 2,355.3km

One Hundred Thirty Five: ZERO

September 17, 2018April 15, 20191 Comment

SONGBIRD AND JEFE ARE HERE! And Nemo and 2Beers showed up late morning, after I got a glorious sleep in. And Marley and Hannah, and Blue, and Twerk, and Turtle, and a whole heap of hikers trying to sit out the storms that keep rolling in and out and in again. So many familiar faces! … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Five: ZERO

One Hundred Thirty Four: 2,347.3km

September 16, 2018April 14, 2019Leave a comment

We zeroed yesterday and basically zeroed the day before that, so this morning, it was time to move our butts. (I know, we've said that before. It's a broken record by now, but hey: we're having fun!) During yesterday's 'mileage renegotiations', as we've come to call it, we all agreed that an early start and … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Four: 2,347.3km

One Hundred Thirty Three: ZERO

September 15, 2018March 13, 2019Leave a comment

Remember back in the day when it felt like I started every second post with ‘Well, we had intended to hike seriously today...’? This is one of those.  It’s kind of mostly Speedy’s fault.  My Dad helped too, in a way.  The phone call home went well yesterday afternoon. After a lot of tears and … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Three: ZERO

One Hundred Thirty Two: 2305.6km

September 14, 2018March 12, 2019Leave a comment

I generally do pretty good at not stressing, but I’m fighting to stay in a positive headspace. And not winning.  So the visa issue... I need to leave the US by October 19th.  To get back in, I need to actually leave the continent of North America - as in, go further south than Panama, … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty Two: 2305.6km

One Hundred Thirty One: 2300.7km

September 13, 2018March 12, 2019Leave a comment

No frostbite from last night. And that potato chips/Snickers bars combo did wonders for my body heat, not too long after I wolfed them down. God had mercy on us. We were woken by sunlight: enough of it for us to stretch out and keep our bones warm, while our tents dried and coffee brewed. … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty One: 2300.7km

One Hundred Thirty: 2284.0km

September 12, 2018March 12, 20192 Comments

The romanticism that enveloped me yesterday, and the dry heat from the fireplace last night are distant memories already. I think it was Jefe who told me months ago that the more calories you eat before bed, the hotter you'll sleep. Your body has to burn those calories, and keeps itself warm doing all that … Continue reading One Hundred Thirty: 2284.0km

One Hundred Twenty Nine: 2263.4km

September 11, 2018January 31, 20192 Comments

I've been thinking... I might write a book. Like, actually write a book. This conclusion has come to me after the countless hours upon hours upon kilometres upon miles upon hours of walking and processing my thoughts. I think the smallest seed of this idea was planted back in Redding, when I was asked, "What … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Nine: 2263.4km

One Hundred Twenty Eight: 2,225.2km

September 10, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

As we walked, and talked, 2Beers asked me how I’m feeling.  This has got to be the most beautiful place I have experienced on earth. No wonder our conversations and friendships and memories made in this place goes so deep. “Do you mean in general, or about the PCT as a whole, or do you … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Eight: 2,225.2km

One Hundred Twenty Seven: 2,196.9km

September 9, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

I only took one photo today: 2Beers and Nemo, as we walked out of Snoqualmie Pass and up into those misty mountains.  I feel content. Peaceful. Light. Happy.  I got to chat with Mumma and Dad this morning, then spent a further two hours on the phone to my gal pal Reens and sister Sarah … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Seven: 2,196.9km

One Hundred Twenty Six: 2,189.7km

September 8, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

I had breakfast with him one hundred and twenty six days ago at a table with Maya and Dario. He's been my pal and confidante and other half on and off for four months, in between his sabbaticals and the inevitable returns that earned him the trail name 'Prodigal'. But today, we said goodbye. Clearly, … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Six: 2,189.7km

One Hundred Twenty Five: 2,172.0 km

September 7, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

It's begun. Begun? Began. Begun... I never really know about the 'a' versus 'u' in this situation. And I've googled it more times than I can count - the jury's still out. Anywayyy... It has begun. The northbound bubble - the friends and comrades and acquaintances I began this journey with back in May, the … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Five: 2,172.0 km

One Hundred Twenty Four: 2,154.7km

September 6, 2018January 23, 20191 Comment

Okay, yeah, so, it turns out I wasn’t the only one letting my thoughts get the better of me last night. Swapping stories this morning, I learnt that 2Beers had also wound herself up a little, and made a similar dash for camp once dark hit, like I did. Nemo had felt ‘a little weird’, … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Four: 2,154.7km

One Hundred Twenty Three: 2,133.3km 

September 5, 2018January 23, 20191 Comment

Lately, the way our mileage has worked out means our days start with a big climb and end with a descent.  With my knees still hurting, I would so much rather prefer it the other way around. I can race up hills (and generally faster than the rest). I love bounding up into the mountaintops, … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Three: 2,133.3km 

One Hundred Twenty Two: 2,109.6km

September 4, 2018January 23, 20191 Comment

Hoooooly guacamole, if my post yesterday was’t some sort of sermon that I specifically needed swirling in my head today, then pigs might start flying (or however that saying goes...). I even wondered if this is how it feels to live out a Doctor Who episode, where the Doctor might go back in time to … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty Two: 2,109.6km

One Hundred Twenty One: 2,098.0km

September 3, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

What am I dreaming for? What is my life message? What will be the questions I ask myself on my deathbed?  Am I living up to the answers I hope I give on that day?  I’m not sure I can answer confidently if the hike today was more challenging than the podcast I listened to … Continue reading One Hundred Twenty One: 2,098.0km

One Hundred Nineteen – Twenty: ZEROES

September 2, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

It's been a while since I've stumbled across some solid good old trail magic, but the drought has ended at the cute little ski town of Stevens Pass.I met Joylene and Savannah Scott yesterday evening.Our little posse that keeps shrinking (and will shrink again next week - I'm still coming to terms with another goodbye) was … Continue reading One Hundred Nineteen – Twenty: ZEROES

One Hundred Eighteen: 2,074.9km

August 31, 2018January 23, 2019Leave a comment

I only gave a half hearted attempt when I tried to sneak off before the gang woke up. The snooze button was pressed at least twice before I even moved, let alone deflated my NeoAir and wriggled out of my quilt. This far into the game, I’ve got my morning system pretty down pat: it … Continue reading One Hundred Eighteen: 2,074.9km

One Hundred Seventeen: 2,045.1km

August 30, 2018January 23, 20191 Comment

Yesterday may have been borderline, but sitting here in my tent eating cold plain couscous and chewing straight into a stick of salami as if it were a banana, there’s no question: my streak of 10/10 days has come to an end. My knee is screaming at me every time I need to step down. … Continue reading One Hundred Seventeen: 2,045.1km

One Hundred Sixteen: 2,016.9km

August 29, 2018January 23, 20192 Comments

Washington Is A Babe. (But she’s also a bit of a biatch). My knees are in agony again. I thought I was doing pretty okay - I’ve been taking glucosamine (for joints), I’ve been stretching like four times a day, I’ve been taking more care of my body than I ever did coming northbound. I … Continue reading One Hundred Sixteen: 2,016.9km

One Hundred Fifteen: 1,991.9km

August 28, 2018January 23, 20191 Comment

I don’t know how it’s possible, but today was another 10/10. Which means I’m currently on a six day streak - that’s a record (not including the cold temps, because that’s just part of living in the mountains). I woke up having had not one, but three creepy Black Mirror-esque dreams, and decided promptly that … Continue reading One Hundred Fifteen: 1,991.9km

Posts navigation

Older posts
January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« May    

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,350 other followers

Archives

  • May 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013

Jot in your email to be notified for new posts, and easily keep up with where I am in the world.

Join 1,350 other followers

Insta Life

No Instagram images were found.

Ephesians 3:20 (TPT)

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this.
He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination!
He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.”

Website Built with WordPress.com.
Cancel