Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Travel plans

Since my late summer backpack trip got burned out (the Rim fire in Yosemite) I've had to come up with something else and just decided to take the new vehicle for a big drive. The plan is to head north to Eugene, OR and visit friends for a couple of days then drive east towards Idaho Falls, ID to visit another group of friends. Next down and over to Durango, CO and then to El Rito, NM to see folks there. Finally I'll be heading west to see Mom in So Cal, finally rolling back up to Santa Cruz one month later. In between all these places I am planning to find places to backpack, even if I am only able to make one or two night trips. I am sure I can find some interesting spots to check out! I must say I am really looking forward to seeing fall in the mountains... it's been a long time since I've seen Aspens turn flame yellow. Very nice.

On the hiking front I have bumped up my mileage to seven, still three days a week. I must confess however to missing the hike on Monday as I was dealing with being swarmed the previous day by yellow jackets. I think we counted 16 or 17 bite sites and even with tons of benedril the day before, I awoke on Monday with half my face swollen with my left eye completely shut. Needless to say I wasn't up for hiking but only for seeing the doc and getting something in my system to reduce the swelling. I was out for two full days and only felt as though I could be in the world this morning. Still two days of prednizone but most of the swelling is gone. Damn, I don't like yellow jackets.

This is right after I pulled a stinger off of my eyelid. I didn't take any later images because, well you know, it was UGLY!


I'm good now.


More from the road!