Jet lag was messing with me, so I was trying to wrestle it into submission. Up and down all night – a few times for what seemed like fleeting encounters with some ladies, and a few more for necessary bathroom breaks. By 3 AM, I felt like I’d finally had enough sleep. Still, I forced myself to lie there a bit longer, trying to drift back off. I finally rolled out of bed around six, took a shower, and found some breakfast, which helped shake off some of the fog. I saved my coffee for later, but ended up skipping it entirely that day. Maybe tomorrow! 😊
The Trek to REI and Early Roadblocks
I decided to walk to REI. Saw some parrots in a tree on the way, a nice little surprise. But then I bailed – it was just too far, and I realized it wouldn’t be smart to go all-out on day one. So, I hailed an Uber, which took over 30 minutes to get me there. We navigated so many different highways and interchanges, I felt like walking wasn’t even an option.
At REI, I snagged a sun hoodie, a fuel canister, Xero sandals for camp, and a membership that hooks you up with perks like free shipping, special pricing, and better return policies. All in, that set me back $165. After that, I hoofed it over to Walmart to grab a charger, some food, and other bits and bobs for another $90.
Medication Prep and Evening Fade
I decided against mailing my medications ahead. So, I spent over 2.5 hours meticulously popping pills out of their blisters and into zip-top bags. Then, everything went into one bigger zip bag with some desiccant packs. Hopefully, this setup holds up!
By 5 PM, I felt like I could just crash – it was already 1 AM back in Prague, and my internal clock was still way off. I managed to push through, though, even if the fatigue was pretty heavy.
Daily Summary
Covered over 12 km on foot, but still 0 km on the #PCT. It was a demanding day, but I successfully knocked out the first round of trip preparations.
—
