Pacific Crest Trail - Day: -1
Start: San Diego, CA
End: San Diego, CA
Miles: 0
Ran some last minute errands to snag a phone case, an SD card reader (because Fujifilm’s Bluetooth photo transfer app doesn’t seem to work with an iPhone), and some sunscreen considering the weather for the first few days of our hike is forecast to be 74+ and ☀️.
Five days ago I was packing microspikes into a resupply box after watching heavy snow falling on a webcam at Mount Laguna and seeing San Jac Jon of San Jacinto Trail Report fame wearing snowshoes above Idyllwild following the latest storm. Immediately before leaving for San Diego, I ditched an extra fleece layer and the microspikes with an optimistic extrapolation of the upcoming forecast and am currently happy I did - it looks like we'll have plenty of flowing water from the latest storm and warm (not hot) beautiful weather for the start of the hike tomorrow!
Solana Beach, CA
Encinitas, CA
We spotted a lively looking beer garden driving through Encinitas and walked our way back to it after parking the car a few blocks down The main drag. Walking up, the bar was packed for a Thursday lunch with the TVs turned up loud for the first set of games for the NCAA basketball tournament. In a moment of reflection I realized I flat out didn‘t care about an event I used to watch and bet on religiously. I suppose not letting what small groups of 18-22 year olds do across the country affect my mood is growth.
We spotted a bustling The Taco Stand across the street and had a couple phenomenal burritos with Pacifico in a bottle. Kristin ordered a California burrito (it comes with French fries, obviously) and I had an Al Pastor burrito that evoked my favorite place to beeline to after landing at Chicago O’Hare on a layover: Big Star.
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Torrey Pines State Beach, CA
We backed out of a San Diego laboratory robotics interest group networking event to watch the sun go down at Torrey Pines State Beach between La Jolla and Del Mar for the second night in a row. A very relaxing (if interrupted by the F-16s, F-22s, Blackhawks, and Apaches flying in and out of Miramar) way to spend the eve of our PCT through hike.