Smudge1 - Continental Divide Trail Journal - 2014

Final Start Date Change - REALLY!

Do to various reasons, mostly to do with not being ready to take 5 months off of daily life here in Mount Shasta yet - I have delayed my start date to April 20th. And - I'm committed - already signed up for the shuttle - sending my $ 60 to wonderful folks at The Continental Divide Trail Coalition, who are making the shuttle happen. I also have a reservation for a site at the KOA in Lordsburg for April 19th - so - it's a done deal - no changing now!

Linda, our golden retriever Lucy and I plan on leaving home on April 15th, taking a few days to make our way to New Mexico in our small motorhome which we nicknamed "The Marshmallow" - visit a few family members along the way and celebrate our 33rd anniversary somewhere en route to Lordsburg. Its starting to look like Linda and the Marshmallow may follow the re-supply route all the way to the Canadian Border. I worry that she will be bored hanging out between re-supplies - but she assures me that she will not and is loading the Marshmallow with art supplies, bicycle, hiking gear and other toys to keep her occupied along the way.

As far as equipment goes, the only big addition to my gear that I am making is a pending purchase of a Delorme "InReach" which is way cool technology that allows me to send and receive text messages via satellite when out of cell range. It also has the capability, as does the SPOT Locator, to connect with rescue services in the event of a serious emergency,

I'm up to walking 12 - 14 miles several times a week with a full pack - right on schedule. My feet are toughening up and while some of my pre-trip jitters that have to do with being in trail shape are going away, there are others popping up....did someone say rattlesnake?

Entry 8 of 8
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