15th April 2022
I woke at 5am and stripped down, stepping on trail by 7am but I need to get slicker at packing up.

The morning was delightfully cool and the trail really nice to walk on although it will not be long until the sun rises, luckily I was able to walk in the shade. I came to an amazing tree if I hadn’t had my silly diversion I could have made it here.

As I went around the next corner I ran into my first cow, almost surreal well it made me laugh.
At last the cache came into view, I quickly dropped my pack, signed the register and began to top up my bottles putting in some Nunn a type of electrolyte. 
I headed out with another 5 litres taking the road as the shuttle drivers had suggested as the official part of the trail is in need of some attention !!.
Another hiker I met heading south was carrying 6 Litres and another hiker named CC was carrying 7 Litres wow that’s heavy.
It was 10.30 and already HOT,I was making good  pace until then I hit the wall and needed shelter, I spotted a place and dove in, putting down my Tyvek and hiding from the sun. I stayed here for 30 minutes until the sun began to steal my shade . As I packed up to leave, disaster I must have put my pack on my bite valve as my bladder was empty OMG. FUCK FUCK.
I heard a engine luckily it was Tim on his way back, luckily i was able to flag him down. Tim was able to give me 2 litres, then reminded me that there was water in 4 miles. 
As I pushed on down the road it was roasting, my feet felt like they were cooking from the heat of the ground so needed to stop to let them cool. The two guys I started with then appeared Hawkeye and Dr Tom (Kevin). I shadowed  them for several miles as they appeared to have similar pace to me .
This is Kevin’s first attempt at a thruhike and I’m impressed. although he’s doing it for a bet i think the bet was to complete 500 miles although it could be more !!
When another shuttle driver passed  I asked again about water.
Its about 1.8 to well water and 4 to the cache.
Okay well water will do me , as I approached the cows sped off in all directions. The water was a large tank fed by a solar pump , inside the tank was thick hose that was flowing great water.
I had, had enough for today so thought I’d put up my tent. MISTAKE no 2 Its just far too hot.

So I joined my fellow hikers under the tree, they had their feet soaking in the cattle trough so I did the same omg Joy.. After a while they left to crush a few more miles and in hindsight I should have done the same!. But no , I sat by the tank under the shade but I was still too hot and so began to get annoyed  with myself. I am learning lessons here, and quickly. Once it was cool enough I went straight to bed , although I am not really on any shedule i feel that I need to be doing bigger miles .

mileage 12  oh dear!