It has been a long vacation from the trail and I’m itching to get back on it. Spending some time in society made me realize I’d really just rather be a hermit. Everything is so busy and so chaotic. I found myself exhausted and depleted. With any luck, I’ll be back on the trail tomorrow and I hope I can find peace again.

It hasn’t all been bad, though. I was able to explore the coastal cities of Washington. My favorite day was taking a ferry to San Juan Island and kayaking on the ocean in the rain. It was also nice to work something other than my legs. Olympic National Park was stunning. You can practically run the trail when you aren’t weighed down by a 40lb pack.

Washington has stolen my heart. The sunsets on the ocean were the best I’ve ever seen, the weather has been lovely, the food is excellent, and there’s so much to see.

Going back to California was hard. Everything is brown and gray and everyone there is in a hurry. I had an awesome time with my family. My cousin’s wedding was lovely and the bride was gorgeous. It was wonderful seeing everyone again.

Now, packing up and feeling uneasy that I’m missing something, I’m anxious to be back in nature. It’s as if that has become my home and everything else is the temporary part. It’s been a difficult few weeks away. I find myself feeling just as lost as I was before I started this. I hope I can find clarity in my last month on the trail.