Two Days To Go

We are finally on the way! As I write this, David and I are making our way across the mesa-studded landscape of New Mexico on the way to San Diego and the beginning of our hike.

All packed up and ready to go!

We left Michigan last Wednesday morning with just our backpacks and whatever we needed to attend a wedding, which we limited to what we could fit in a large flat rate box from the post office so we could ship it back. We spent a few days weaving our way down to Santa Fe, New Mexico, mystifying the locals in Pratt, Kansas with our ridiculous hiking outfits and backpacks strapped with trekking poles and camp shoes. It was a nice reminder that we are about to be fully in the hiker trash catagory again, and should get used to the weird looks. At least when we hit the PCT, people in the communities surrounding the trail will be accostomed to the sight of shorty-shorts and socks with crocs.

Kansas just won't quit

We had a run in with a tumbleweed

We drove from there through a dust storm in Oklahoma and dodged tumbleweeds as they whipped along the road. And then we made it to Santa Fe and met up with friends. The wedding was held on the top of a mountain overlooking Chimney Rock at the Ghost Ranch, so the hikes up and down (rehearsal and real deal) actually gave David and me a chance to break in some of our gear, which was, of course, our primary objective all along.

At Chimney Rock

David rocking the shorty shorts

It was a weekend filled with lots of drinks and laughs, heartfelt vows, and great food. David and I were so happy that we could take that detour to be in attendance and that it worked out with the timing of the start of our hike. Congrats again Elise and Broc!

Box Canyon at Ghost Ranch

What seems bizarre about this road trip is that we will have driven about 2200 miles across the country just to get on a trail and walk another 2700 miles in different direction. But this trip has felt like it has eased us in to our larger trip, and it was a perfect start to our adventure.