Just keep swimming

And so, I made it there and back.

I won't lie. It was hard. Within the first hour, I saw a black bear.  It was a Scooby-Doo moment for us both:

"ZOINKS!"

I took off one way, the bear went the other.  We both stopped and looked back  (to make sure we weren't being followed) and I just kept muttering like Dori from "Finding Nemo" : "Just keep swimming- Just keep swimming...."

I saw a milk snake: rather lovely but seemed ticked off at the world.  It was certainly mad at my hiking pole. JEEZ! Whazza maddah YOU? I just walked behind it and mosied on.

Just keep swimming  Just keep swimming...

It was an eight hour haul to the ranger station, where I asked about the storm coming up over the mountain.  "Should be in around seven but gone pretty quick".  Good news.  I hiked another hour to the site; surprised by a couple of campers. I received weird looks as I unpacked my entire campsite in an area the size of a picnic table top (at the most) The others hauled grills, chairs, coolers....

The wind picked up and the sky got droopy.  I quickly heated up my dinner, sacked my food outside the tent, got some writing and notes taken care of, changed in to dry clothes and felt the first drops.

Zip! Right in.  Got my lil head lamp got my snuggly bag. I''m good.

Plop ~ drip ~ drop~

 KABOOSH

Rain? I could have done all right.  Monsoon? uhhhh little tougher to deal with.  Now, I should have told you that my pad site was very rocky. It was too hard to dig the spikes very far in so I had to go as far as I could and then pile rock on top to hold.  The deluge that bombarded me caused pooling in the rocks.  It also caused pooling in my tent.  My bag got wet, my clothes... everything. I was cold. I was drenched and disappointed.

Just keep swimming Just keep swimming. (I thought at one point this would become a literal statement)

But the rain ended.  I still didn't sleep much since most of the night had to be spent bailing out.  It had to be done considering... I was by myself.  When the morning sun came, I hauled all my gear up, now heavy with water and finished though I confess it was a shorter hike than originally planned.  I think I'm still trying to take the chill out of my bones.  But I did it. I was awesome with my gear, learned a few things to do differently (better), patted myself on the back for the things I did right ~ Liiiiike facing my tent away from the wind and at the top of the site so as to prevent a worse flood of my gear. I'm beaming about that one especially since I heard the campers near by trying to switch that... too late...

I am amazed at what I've done this summer; all I've achieved. I can tell you there were times when I was scared to death, frustrated beyond words and exhausted passed sleep.  But fifty miles later, I survived and love it.  Love what I've seen and more all I have become.  Survivor woman? Not a chance. I love the spa too much, but it sure feels good to do this.  It makes me excited for next year.

I wanted to thank all of you for your jokes, your support and concern.  I know you thought I was crazy to do this albeit alone... well "That's just nuckin futs" to quote a few of you.  I was major injury free and safe; best of all, I was happy.  In the end, that's all we get; a chance to be happy.

I hope to be back this weekend with a couple of goodies.

Just keep swimming.

Much love,
Tessa