After months/years of planning and a hectic last week of preparation I'm finally on the trail. As my birthday (and also my start date) approached a mixture of nervousness and excitement began to fill me. I kept thinking of little things I needed to do/buy before I left. In typical Darren fashion I did just about everything last minute (probably why it took me 9 years to finish college ha!) But in reality there is only so much planning you can do. It's impossible to know where I'll be 3,4,5 months from now, or what food I may be craving or sick of. I just got as much done as could and figure out the rest on the trail.
When I got off the plane in San diego, my stomach was full of knots. Knowing what I was about to undertake by myself weighed heavy on me. Fortunately, within 10 minutes of waiting for the bus another pct hiker walked up (we are pretty hard to miss with all our gear). Seeing someone else doing the same thing as me really out me at ease. Later that day at the train station I met 5 more hikers. The nervousness I was feeling was quickly melted away and was replaced by excitement. I spent the night in El cajon doing a few last minute errands and prepared for my departure the next day.
The bus ride to El campo pumped me up even more. Four other hikers were in the bus with me. Each of us were sizing up each others gear and getting know eachother on the long dusty bus ride. In town We topped off our water bottles inthe little store as It would be 20 miles until our next water source. . It was very surreal finally standing at the southern terminus after years of waiting for this day. We all took our pictures and signed the register at the monument. I signed Nathans name at the register next to mine and then we all started out together. There was a huge sense of comradery between us all as we hiked. It made the daunting taskof what lay ahead of us seem a little easier