I’m on my way to Campo to begin my thru-hike. We didn’t get there in the morning due to my sweet mama treating us to a buffet. By “us,” I mean me, my desert night hiking buddy, and this amazing long-haired specimen of a human being who drives hikers by day and swing dances by night. Really though, I’m so going to miss our swing dance lessons!

Anyway, we gorged ourselves, and now we’re stuck in traffic while headed south. At least we don’t have to hike with full bellies! That’s never fun. And we’re going to miss out on the worst heat of the day, so I’m happy about the late start!

I’m absolutely ecstatic! I’m beaming, singing in the car (out loud! that almost never happens!), and nearly dancing in my seat. I can hardly contain myself! I want to laugh, I want to cry tears of joy, I want to kiss someone, I want to hug a tree, I want to climb it and scream at the top of my lungs from up there!

I’m going to get off my phone and enjoy this feeling. I just wanted to tell you that this is real, and it’s happening, and it’s going to be so amazing and so breathtaking that it’s going to blow my mind and knock my merino wool socks off!

Good bye, simple girl with the normal life. Hello, inner mountain woman on an epic adventure. Someone comfort my mother for me, please. 🙂