20th April 2025

Slowly the reality of the PCT is setting in, and it far exceeds my expectations. We woke to a sunrise we could see from our tent, casting virgin light into the woodland. 

The group packed up and headed to Mount Laguna. Without any plans to do so we found the hostel room the rest of the gang staying at last night. They greeted us in with coffee and we took turns using their shower. 

The majority of us stopped at Pine House Cafe for breakfast where I chomped down on omelette with toast and breakfast potatoes accompanied by yet more coffee. A moment of calm and a welcomed intake of calories. 

A quick stop at the store for snacks (hello Jolly Rancher!) and we were on our way. There was a dramatic jump up in temperature, the sky burnt blue and the views kept delivering. The most magnificent of which was Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, a barren beauty of red, yellow and white rolling hills. This was the predominant view of the day as we walked the edge of it high up in the hills.

We came across a local couple, and their happy poodles. They handed us a bar of Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut, the king of chocolates and the perfect supplement for the lack of chocolate Easter eggs! Again, another act of kindness from strangers.

As we reached mile 56 we saw a friend who we split up with this morning at breakfast. He was standing in the most incredible and secluded camping spot covered with green vegetation and pale grey smooth stone with a 300 degree view of the valley which would prove to host views of both the sunset and sunrise. 

We sat on boulders watching the silhouetted hills fade to a dusky purples as the sky formed a pink hue. The last of the whiskey was passed round and enjoyed as a sundowner. It was a clear still night and we jumped at the opportunity to cowboy camp for the first time. The artwork of stars above was the last thing we saw as we drifted off to sleep below an endless night sky.