Kick off!!

We wake up early to avoid the heat on the way up to the hill. Ones in top we show the lake morena where is the kick off. 

The kick off was really nice. Meeting many people. I got my new sleeping bag down 20 degree Zpack, sweet sweet!! a few more items. I passed the day in different conference about water resources, the dessert, the danger of the bears and the injuries. The speaker are through  - hikers that share their experience. It is nice that there are not right or wrong , everybody has their style but 1 l every 5 miles. No problem.

They forecast an storm during the night and it arrived. Before went to sleep i got extra peg to be ready. At 2 am it arrive , I was in the tent praying, ready with my rain gear to go out and refit pegs in case all fly out. At 5 am it stop I went to the toilets ....... It was everybody there , many of the tents collapse during the storm and they have to go to get refuge over there.

In the morning without much sleep I started alone. I got a few shower but nothing crazy. I met Laurent , with experience backpacking so good for me. The day was quite easy. we climb quite a lot but slowly. We camped just before Mont Laguna. Night was quite windy but the spot was quite good.

Border to Lake Morena

I woke up early and I went to the trolley stop. I already show some throw hikers. A couple from Canada with a dog. In the bus to the border arrived a few more hikers. The atmosphere was great , Everybody was very exited. We did the typical pictures with the monument and we start the way to Canada in the middle of the heat. I did this part with Joe and Rai. The areas were nice, dessert , I really love it. Everything is hurting. We have to carry 6 Litres water for this 20 miles stretch. We cowboy camping the first night with Rai , Dor and Jhony. I nearly freeze at night as I don't have get my 20 F sleeping bag. I will pick it up tomorrow from Lake Morena. Nice start, Knee is surviving.

Looking forward.

Birmingham - Amsterdam- Detroit - San diego

bufff what a long day of airports has been....but finally back to the west coast!!

     I imagine that the security department was quite intrigued after watch my backpack through x- rays with the termal reflectan of the cozzy pot, thermarest and ground sheet.

but the people that I really amuse was in migration department. They brought apart to their office to study deeper my case.
- so you are hiking 5 months?
- yes sir.                              
- ok , ok.....I see.......    
I had to show then the tent , maps and explain them the full resupply strategy .
their faces showed incredulity. they start to believe me ones I show them the permits .

- ok ok. good luck with that one. Welcome to the USA.  

The hostel was really good.  Very friendly. everybody going out together at night.

san diego very nice in general.  I also been in the midland aircraft carrier museum. very recommended.

My knee and legs hurting as usually. ones that I got the tickets I will gave it a shot. I will surprise myself if I survive the firs week.

I am having trouble uploading pictures from the phone to blogger , so no post with pictures by now. I will try to understand whats going on....

now I am on bed, nervous, I can not sleep as I start the pct in 10 minutes.  felling good.