New Toys! and things I will miss..

I got my ice axe last week and oh is it ever sexy! My crampons (Kahtoola Microspikes) just came in today, have to pick them up from REI. As excited as I am about them, there's no way I will go to a store until after Xmas. Not only would I have to deal with the craziness in the parking lot, but I also have to drive by an already very busy LA International Airport...no thanx! I'll wait!

I was doing some training the other day and while hiking, I thought about the things I would miss ever so much while on the trail for five months:

My comfy bed at night
my kitty, Pheebs
looong hot showers
my friends
hanging out with Mary Thursday nights watching Grey's Anatomy with wine in hand
walks on the beach at sunset
watching the dolphin surf the waves in the morning
real food and fresh brewed coffee everyday

No training this week :-(

I have been sick with the flu all week and still feel like poop. I hiked a short four miles yesterday and it helped with the congestion but I had a fever afterwards. It's a good thing I love green tea! I have been asked by a friend, what I would do if I got sick on the trail. I told him I'd crawl back into my tent and sleep until I got better.

Some people say I am hard headed and strong willed, others say just lucky. Either way, I am fortunate to be able to walk again. Yesterday, I decided that when I finish my journey I want to write a book about it, and donate all the profits to two charities. One will be for research in spinal degenerative disease, which is what my best buddy and hiking partner, Droopy dog, passed away from in April. The other will be for people who need wheel chairs and can't afford them.