On that first day out of Big Bear, the foot-swallowing, heel-encompassing, bigger-than-a-toe-in-themselves blisters had only considered blossoming. Day 2 marked their rise to power over my other foot pain. Outsides of heels, under arches, against the ball of my feet, they began to thrive by lunchtime. The undersides of my big toes developed amazing blood blisters under thick calluses. An accompanying cacaphony of ouch appeared on the insides of my ankles, and, since I'd left my precious orthotics in the boots that I'd hastily sent back to Vegas, my neuroma flared up immediately. I, yes I, was in tears off and on for three days. Why the hell Far Out stuck through that continues yo baffle me.
There was a goal, damn it, and I would achieve it. Dad wanted to meet me in Cajon Pass on Thursday. I'm sure he would have waited a day, but I really just wanted to be there on time. Proof to myself. Some damned thing I just had to do.
Any other time, this hike would have been excellent. There were orange Calochortus near a lovely hot springs. There was a rainbow bridge over the trout-filled Deep Creek. There was a fairly flat ridge-line walk for miles and miles that I could truly appreciate for speeding through and making time. There was a juvenile Southern Pacific Rattlesnake that Far Out waited near just for me to see.
I appreciated very little at the time, only now can I flip back to the images that were carefully stowed away by my thoughtful brain. I'd like to be back there in less excruciating circumstances. I am currently processing having being stalked, a few days ago, by an Arroyo toad at Deep Creek hot springs. The next day, I had a conversation with a nude man that I didn't recognize from the cold, bundled-up night before. Hot springs attract amoebae and nudists; people wonder why I don't seek out these thermal meccas.
Disjointed few days. And now, after a couple days in a room with my dad, I have new orthotics, resupply items, and have iced all of my lower extremeties. It all still hurts. I will continue anyway.