The Saufley's Place - Agua Dulce - My PCT starting point

I'm at a really nice place called Agua Dulce in the Mojave desert staying with some people called the Saufleys (see http://www.hikerheaven.com/ ). Most people arrive here after hiking 450 miles from Mexico. The Saufleys have a standard way of dealing with them. You get a shower and loaner clothes, air conditioning, welcome. Everything you could imagine - even a couple of loan cars! What's more the Saufley's do all this for nothing! You leave a donation which is used to buy new stuff for hikers. They are quite amazing people for sure.

I arrived in a Buick from Hertz so I feel like quite a fraud at the moment. We set off tonight at 5pm to hike in the desert. Catra looks so strong and fresh it is quite intimidating. It's hard to believe she has hoofed it 454 miles already. I'm looking forward to shouldering my pack and getting a few miles into my feet. I hope I'm up to it.

Sienna is totally on the ball and ready to sort me out if I get into trouble. I couldn't have got here without here help and mellow attitude. It was really hectic getting out of Minden and finishing up with GE and all. In the past week I have:
- handed back my badge and gun to GE (ie. computer, phone, etc)
- sorted out legal things with GE
- sold me car
- canceled car insurance and broadband service
- handled a whole pile of post
- put everything into storage
- cleaned up my condo
- rented a car
- sorted out UK company taxes
- organized resupply for the PCT
- bought food, gear, etc
- got permits for the trail
- etc etc etc

You could say it is something of a relief to head off into the distance with just a pack, though I have never planned to hike for such a long time before.

I've already met a whole bunch of nice people on the trail: Catra, Basil, Becca, Lon, Joel, David, Salt Lake & Ashly, Tony and Rich. It's encouraging to see so many people on the trail who are very nice. I hope to bump into some of them again.

So, perhaps a quick shower before hitting the trail to calm my nerves...