May 19 – Overcoming Inertia
Someone recently asked what I thought was the most difficult thing about this hike. It’s not the strain of walking, it is “overcoming inertia.” It is geting up early on a cold morning (like today) before the sun has risen and shaking off the tightness from the legs to start walking. Once on the trail the legs usually find an easy rythem to follow and start to feel strong right away, its just overcoming that first step. And its the same problem trying to startup after a break. When sitting feels so good and so right. But to get the miles done its necessry to overcome inertia and keep moving or eating or sleeping, the three activities which need to find the right balance.
Today we descended into chaparal, oaks, jeep roads, and power lines, coming out of the higher San Gabrial mountains into lower lands. We played leap frog with “mystic” and the horse people, “Rider Hikers” Dave and Arlene. Later on we saw Halftrack, Supertramp, Plato, Sourdough, and Kim.
Cousins Jim and June Schmidt met us at Messenger Flats with a feast fit for kings, Calamari, Scallops and Veggies in a Garlic sauce, Spinach Salad, fruit, bread, beer and wine…..yummmmmm Everyone enyjoyed food and drink into the night.
