MAY 15TH 2010 DAY THIRTEEN

Hopefully I can transition this one from yesterday without losing anybody. On this morning I had just finished being butchered by Buddha, while he drained my blood blisters, still kidding Buddha. Now comes the part where I knew better. I did not let my feet and blisters dry out and socked and booted up and continued into the desert. This day was hotter than the previous and I immediately regretted walking back into the desert, knowing there was no place to get out of the sun and heat to tend to my feet. Buddha was on his way back to his family and we were once again on our own, or were we? Enter Bart and family on their way to Barstow. I guess I should mention that Troy and Cheryl and Scott and Heidi were also passing by on their way to Vegas but that was more of an opportunity for Troy to do a "drive by harassing" than anything else. See Troy is one of those buddies, which I am sure we all have, that likes to make sure you are as miserable as possible. Texting about how cold the air conditioning is, and what to get off the menu for breakfast at Bobs Big Boy, and of course, numerous phone pictures of his middle finger. I grew up with him and love him, but not as nearly as much as I am going to love dragging him around by his nostrils the next time I see him. I also had another friend that was on her way to the River and was going to come by and say goodbye but that never materialized, just a drive by texting. Anyways, I continued into the desert on a route that Bart had recommended earlier. Just to remind you, Bart grew up in this godforsaken place, which explains a lot. I think that he used to play under the power lines or there wasn't a roof on his bedroom, or something like that. I guess it would be unfair if I didn't mention that when in Bart's jeep last week, I smacked a mosquito that was on the inside of his windshield, and completely shattered the whole thing. Like the bear spray incident, it wasn't funny until the next day. Moving along, I made my way into the desert and could feel my feet sliding in my socks and creating hot spots that I couldn't afford having turn into blisters, so I sat down and changed my socks and continued mission. I realized with each step, that I really should have been more concerned with my feet, seeing as they are the only thing I have to depend on to get us across. When in the military, people would ask us how we would travel so far, and we would reply, "LPCs," which sounded like a military vehicle, but was really us being funny, it stood for Leather Personnel Carriers aka boots. So you see, I really do know better but walked anyways. I realized that I should do a little more climatizing and dry the feet out some more before finishing the leg. I spent the rest of the evening and today climatizing and drying out my feet. I am now going to travel the rest of the Deserts in early mornings and late afternoons, unless of course the weather cools off but I see no sign of this happening. I will be able to get more mileage and be more comfortable by doing this. Starting tomorrow, I will see no more friends or family, so it will be lots of walking and lots of time with just me and Kenz. I look forward to this and consider this the real start of our journey. It has been great seeing everyone and the distance they will go to say goodbye in person or just to offer help. Like everyones comments and well wishes, I appreciate them more than words can say, even Troy. I knew it would take a couple of weeks to get through the growing pains and back into the swing of how it used to be, and now with each day we will be stronger and wiser. Thank you for being a part of day thirteen.
*Regardless of the size of the bed Mackenzie slept in, she took up the entire bed. Sometimes I would go in to wake her up and her feet would be where her head was when she fell asleep.