I’m not sure how to even put today into words. I’ve talked it out with a few key people, and I’ve replayed it in my head enough times: it’s not a problem of recollection. This time, I’m unsure how to adequately describe how my day unfolded, and I want to make sure I’m honouring and … Continue reading Day Ninety One: 1713.0 – 1753.8km
Wondering out loud, I asked the PCT if our relationship was one of unrequited love. I give her my all, every day. Of course I get tired. There are ebbs and flows to my energy, to my attitude, to how I approach her. Such is the cyclic nature of life. But everything that I have, … Continue reading Day Eighty Three: 1576.7 – 1608.7km
I miss Cathleen Cowie. I think it was Carolyn (her beautiful sister) who told me once that grief comes in waves. Originally, they are tidal waves that you feel you’ll drown in. They batter you one after another, relentlessly, as you gasp and try to gulp in air with water raging all around. Eventually, there … Continue reading Day Eighty Two: 1558.7 – 1576.7km
I’m currently having one of those serendipitous days, where I keep meeting the exact people I need to. This morning, it was Northcut. He’s an American fella out here on his first ever backpacking trip with two guys he used to work with (Scott and Paul). Far out, I’ve got to give it all the … Continue reading Day Eighty One: 1538.8 – 1558.7km
I can’t seem to find the right words, but my heart is ... wrong. It’s off balance. Restless. Anxious. Out of sorts. Lonely. Detached. I know something is wrong, but I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is, or why, or where the root of it - whatever ‘it’ is - lies. I … Continue reading Day Eighty: 1516.9 – 1538.8km
Yesterday was the first time I’ve fallen down on trail. It was a solid one too: I was as good as a turtle, splayed out in the dirt. Only a few scrapes and bruises that have made themselves known today to show for it, but it happened. So I just wanted to admit that I … Continue reading Day Seventy Four: 1459.1 – 1466.1km
“Bear! BEAR! THAT’S A BEAR! THERE’S A BEAR!” I had been having a quiet morning conversation with Nemo as we all slowly woke up, but I jumped up so flipping fast - barely stopping to pull on my shoes as I ran towards the flash of brown I’d just seen. “Wizard WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! … Continue reading Day Sixty Four: 1287.2 – 1306.7km
I know I’ve had a lot of good days out here. The standard has been set high. I’ve gone from desert wastelands to rocky mountains to bubbling creeks. I’ve touched the Mexican-United States ‘wall’, walked just about thirteen hundred kilometres from there, and climbed one of the country’s highest mountains. Even so, I think it’s … Continue reading Day Fifty Seven: 1245.8 – 1269.9km (+12.2km)
I reckon every day has something special to offer. Sometimes it’s like a treasure hunt and you have to search for it (admittedly, I don’t always find it), but sometimes it’s served to you on a silver platter. Today, I had that something special served to me in ziplock bags, by some very special people. … Continue reading Day Fifty Six: 1234.4 – 1245.8km
Tonight, I’ll be in Hiker Heaven. After all my research; my blog scrolling and YouTube watching and internet scouring, it seems surreal that I’m reaching the places I’ve read and dreamt about. Before, they were long off waypoints. They weren’t even real. They were names on pages, pinpoints on maps. Yet here I am, checking … Continue reading Day Thirty: 701.8 – 731.5km
Naomi, you deserve to set yourself an alarm! Didn’t we just go over this last week?! 😫 It was after 8AM but the time I rolled myself out of the tent, and past 9:30AM when I had my pack strapped on and started walking through the campground towards the trailhead. Last night, I hadn’t cared … Continue reading Day Twenty Eight: 632.9 – 660.4km
I’ve spent the morning thinking about how hard life would be if you weren’t friends with yourself. It’s not an unknown concept to me - as a few of you might know, my teenage years weren’t too shiny on the inside. I tried to hide it and put on a good facade, but my self-esteem … Continue reading Day Twenty Seven: 594.5 – 632.9km
Even with the wind hammering my tent all night, I woke up feeling like I’d had a sleep in. And had another shower just for the heck of it. Today is going to be a good day. Last night Ghost had offered to take us into town, and as promised, he pulled up at 7am … Continue reading Day Six: 123.9 – 145.6km
Today we set out from Pamplona. As we left the city walls (yes, the city is surrounded by stone walls - complete with watchtowers and a drawbridge - so epic!) we could see big windmills dotting the horizon. Walking towards these and seeing them get closer and closer and closer until you pass right underneath … Continue reading Día Cuatro / Day Four
How do I put into words the beauty and majesty of all I saw yesterday? Even the most eloquent descriptions could not do it justice. The morning was fresh, but it was a welcome coolness. We started out with a fine mist, and ascended the Pyrenees walking through thick clouds. Yesterday's leg was supposedly the … Continue reading Día Uno / Day One
