Day 42 Miles: 16 From ridgeline campsite to walker pass (then to lake isabella) J mocks me for saying I’m being swarmed by mosquitoes when there are only eight. I say, if all eight of them are within six inches of my face, then it’s a swarm. Semantics aside, eight is enough to drive you…

Day 41 Miles: 16 From willow spring to ridgeline around mile 636 I turn off the first alarm, then hit snooze for the second. It’s light out, and cool, and if I get up now everything will be so much easier, but I just can’t. J finally makes the move and gets up. We have…

Day 40 Miles: 21 From robin bird spring to willow spring It’s so nice to wake up in a lovely spot, surrounded by trees, with a flowing spring. Luxurious, even. Spike came in late last night, and we chat over breakfast and filtering water for the day. Purple and Carnivore come in while we’re chatting,…

Miles: 23 Day 39 From a few miles before golden oaks spring to robin bird spring I’ve got ants crawling in my hair, I can tell, but it’s the middle of the night and I just don’t care. I brush them off my face, doze, do it again. Finally it’s J’s restlessness that wakes me…

Day 38 Miles: 21 From Tehachapi Willow Springs Road to 3.5 miles before golden oaks spring Six am comes way too early. I should have gone to bed earlier last night – some rest day – chores and staying up late. J and I have to hustle to get out the door by 6:30, when…

Day 37 Miles: 8 From the mile 549 water cache to Tehachapi willow springs road The whole crew rolled into the cache last night, then rolled out before we woke up. Bob and the Canadians are gone too. Bringing up the rear again. Wouldn’t want to break form. We have our rocket boosters on this…