The desert is done. – The walk

The last day in the desert. I did it. Well, not before 27 miles, but I was doing it. I woke up very excited to arrive at KMS. I made Kodiak Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Oats with chocolate covered freeze dried bananas. It was less of a breakfast and more of a dessert, but absolutely delicious.

There was one more climb to get up and out of the desert. It was hot, but there was plenty of water between the different creeks and streams and the south fork of the Kern River. After going up and over that climb, it was a flat and easy ride to KMS.

I walked with Jug most of the day. Sometimes we chatted, sometimes we walked close to each other, sometimes we split up, but overall it was a great day of walking. We were sailing. Partly I feel like I’ve disconnected. Like when you’re driving your car and you forget about the moments between point a and point b.

Before I knew it, Jug and I were walking our last mile through the desert. I’ve been feeling a little nostalgic for the past 45 days. I asked him to think about his ups and downs from this section and I thought about mine. It is very difficult to choose just one moment. I think my high might have been the nighttime walk along the aqueduct. And my lowest point was hurting right after… there might be a little recency bias with that.

After celebrating our final steps in the desert, we walked 0.8 miles to the general store. We were greeted with cheers and cowbells and a huge group of people. It’s a difficult feeling to describe. She had tears in her eyes as she walked up the stairs to the general store. Rascal arrived before us and had beers waiting to celebrate. Luckily we arrived just in time to wait in line for burgers. Straight Up and Turtle came up behind us and we all cheered to make it to the finish line in the desert.

I did it. Desert section, complete. I am very proud.

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