Hitting stride

Monday, May 19
Mile 450, Vasquez Rocks

 The now-familiar desert flower perfume filled my nose, the now-familiar grasses waved and tickled as I cruised at the now-familiar pace of hiking, with now-familiar friends ahead and behind. It was a beautiful day, and I really feel like I've hit my stride (no pun). 

14 miles of cresting fire-scarred hills, then siesta and ice cream and a SWIMMING POOL at the koa. I really love the bubble of hikers we've fallen in with; Leisure Tour and the Fellowship are so much fun. We all decided to camp at Vasquez Rocks tonight, just outside Agua Dulce, after a breezy ten miles this evening. Walking this much is starting to feel so easy, and the afternoon flew by in a series of stunning cloudscapes and a gorgeous sandstone slot.

Happy under my Jeffrey pine friend tonight. I can't get over how much I love the sound of wind through needles; my lullaby.