California giveth, and California taketh away.

This close to the end our motivation has ebbed. Our minds are far ahead of our bodies, dreaming of laying around various comfortable places, with a beer in one hand and a book in the other. Today was no exception. Lost in mirages of a more comfortable and secure future we missed our turn. We walked three miles in the wrong direction, or about one hour. Take that times two for the return trip, canceling out our morning’s progress.

The day itself started fine. We woke up a little late, per tradition, and left Don’s with gifts of canned goods and grappa. We walked with ease on the generous shoulder, counting the numerous roadkills along the way. There was no doubt as to our heading. We checked our location on a whim and found the error. So much for the morning. Our moods dropped considerably. What the extra 6.2 miles meant was that we would have to stop short of our intended stopping point, making the next day’s “easy 13.8 miles” into something closer to 21.

Just as the road is, we were saved by finding somethings on the road. First it was a ————- *redacted for it will be a gift* and then a possible working smart phone, though the battery was smashed. Finally we found objects that took a substantial amount of time to collect, though we cannot speak of them for they will be gifted. So two gifts and a phone that will replace Skye’s phone ( which randomly shuts off ).

We walked through the town of Tomales and mailed two of the gifts. The Postmaster Julie was incredibly helpful and even treated us to homegrown heirloom tomatoes. We left feeling better about the day.

Along the way, we continued to find more of the second gift, as they were a set. Skye was quite excited. They were specific objects and unusually well preserved.

We ended the day exhausted, found a place to camp and thought of San Francisco.