Wed 21st May
Ah the difference a good sleep makes.i woke at 5 all ready to hit the trail also a good supper helps too..I was just checking my feet when Sochi  came past morning snailtrainer good morning how are you.we discussed the amazing  views around every corner then he was gone.as I was up early I brewed  tea, ate a breakfast bar then hit the trail.  It’s started gently but I knew it was hill day or rather big hill day .It was cloudy again but not cold which helps as you don’t drink as much and I was fairly low..on I walked until I came to a picture in the sand marked out in quartz stone.it said 1/4….It didn’t make sense I thought almost to water then the penny dropped I have done a 1/4 of the PCT whoop whoop whoop I drank the remainder of my gatorade in celebration

How cool is that
I’m amazed and shouted yeah before walking on .Again the scenery kept slowing me down its just so amazing. .Okay water I need water needle crossing  great not far  .The scenery kept stopping me but water was important I fancied a cup of tea. Mm as I got to where water should be I was greeted by a dark muddy puddle
.okay next water sauce 2 miles..that’s okay and off I strolled. The sun was doing its best to shine but sofar the clouds were winning as I approached the next water sauce I was greeted by huge lupins similar to home so it must be a water thing and there ahead was a murky stream with flowing water..Here on the trail you can’t be picky water is water.  I dropped my pack took out my bottles, filter and cup.i walked upstream then in a fairly cleanish bit scooped out mud etc to make a nice pool.then I waited for it to clear before filling the bottles with water. Once fill o returned to my pack to do the laborious task of filtering. I start by screwing my filter onto the 2 litre bottle. Then  i filter this in my bladder by squeezing. It takes a while. When empty I refill and repeat. .The 1 litre bottle I leave dirty I make tea with that so boiling should kill the bugs.
As I was finishing off two other hikers turned up Mowgli and Doc.we did the usual introductions then I was off .but I knew they would soon catch up and pass me
Well I am slow because I have bad knees I have degenerative Cartilage for don’t have the gate or reach.i also have to be careful that I don’t jar them as the pain is excruciating. So I’m slow but hey I’ve done a 1/4 of the PCT WHOOP
I was making good pace on the he trail when I came to a handwritten note on the trail it said “Snake” it made me look then laugh. If you put danger poison bush that would make sense. But Snake..Snake move and fairly quickly.just then Mowgli appeared he laughed too and picked it up it thought it funny Mowgli and the Snake Kea and we laughed again. Then Mowgli and doc were gone. It was now hill time
But my legs were moving g fine.i had plenty of food and water just wanted some sun. The hrs were ticking by almost 11 ill stop for a break at 11.it was almost that as I came over the saddle again it was a Omg moment click click snap.  Then time for a break some jerki. Nuts .power bar and PG tips. .It was do piece full. So silent up here in the wilderness.i might of dropped off if it was warmer..but I need to walk the more miles today then I  can have an easy day into kenedy meadows. .I was really enjoying the trail it went from beach to pine forest to cliff face to beach to pine forest and back again .The sun seemed of given up today and the clouds now looked blacker ..Come on sun I shouted. It was now 1 lunch for me I finished off the jerki. Brewed tea.and add tortillas smeared with peanut butter sliced onion . cheese. Salami and ranch sauce.Yummy well you need the calories out here.i was just drinking my tea when another hiker appeared he said his name but I didn’t register it apart from its a Mexican monster! !.
As I was packing up I felt spots of rain. No surely not.so I packed quicker hoisted my pack and set off.it was spitting with train but nothing serious
.It then began to drizzle I stopped under a tree packed my solar panel away just in case. Put my phone in its waterproof case and put my raincoat on..Then it really began to rain.This can be right I said to nobody. .. .on I marched then a sign for water great I topped up my bottles with clean water then back to the trail. As I crossed a jeep track there was a sign for s camp…what to do camp or go on.i went on across the road was a Pct register I signed my name then ploughed on about a mile on I spied a tent
It’s raining I called out.it was the Mexican monster.
You got the right idea I replied. You going on he asked.
Just a bit I replied . but really I should of joined him.i walked for about another 20 minutes getting saturated. Before giving up next time note to self STOP.
I guess it was good practice putting my tent up in the rain and gear in .but a lot of it is wet so I will stop earlier next time
Once up I changed out of my wet stuff and got straight into my bag .
Oh well so much for doing a long day it’s 4 PM .If the rain stops I  will make hot chocolate