Amusement and Random Stories - December 18, Day 265, 17.4 miles, Holtville, CA

11 days till the Pacific Ocean!!!

I amused myself this morning in a way I never thought would be so funny. Yes, when you are out on the road for double the amount of time it takes to run, you GOTTA find ways to pass the time! HAHA. Here's my story. You know the ladies who powerwalk by swinging their arms to power each step? I mean, super arm swing action. HUGE PENDULUM ARM SWINGS. Ok, you have the picture in your head now? I set off on my walk this morning, still wishing I could run, but, "heck with it," I said to myself, "I am going to make walking fun from here on out!" So, I decided to swing my arms. I swung them high into the sky. I could feel the power swinging through my arms and into my legs. I was movin'! Those ladies who do this know where it's at! This is the way to walk! I wanted to get a workout in, you know, raise my heart rate, so the arm swing did it. I powerwalked today!!!!! Can I join the lady powerwalker club now? I only lasted for the first 10 miles powerwalking though...this is tough stuff! EEEE dawgie! I have mucho respect for powerwalking people. The best thing about this whole experience is that it cracked me up. Imagine an arm-swinging young gal out in the desert (yes, still, it goes on and on out here) with a smile on her goofy face laughing out loud to herself! Life is pretty sweet when you put your mind to making something fun. It's a mental thing. Don't get me wrong, walking 18 miles a day is still one of the most grueling things I have done in my life, but if I tell myself it is going to fun and worth every step, then it sure will be (at least mentally).

If there is something you truly do not look forward to, try telling yourself to look forward to it. I wouldn't go to the extreme and tell yourself, "man, Self, I can't wait to drive home from work in bumper-to-bumper traffic for 2 hours!" But rather, think about, for example, the time you will have for yourself to zen! Or, something fun...like being able to listen to the best songs you have ever known in your life for 2 hours. Or, catching up with an old friend (using your hands-free headset of course)! Something neat.

Other fun things that happened over the past few days:

1.) I got a ride in a cop car off the interstate in CA...haha, oops. He asked me, "you have any knives or guns on you" and I promptly said NO! I was put in the backseat and driven off the interstate. I had to walk on the non-interstate side of the fence, which happened to be all sand!!! Which leads me to...

2.) I walked on across sand dunes. This will wreck havoc on your hamstrings!!! HAHA! What a thrill. Every 6-mile break I would dump out the 1/4 cup of sand that had seeped into my shoes!

3.) We got escorted through a construction zone! It was a truck with blinking lights, me, another truck, then Jenny driving the van as the caboose. It was a parade! Awesome! In fact, the construction dudes became our friends, and in fact, "cool," "awesome," "I luv it," and the hand signal for "hang loose" where all part of their common lingo. We are definitely in CA:-)

4.) OH! RIGHT! I AM IN CALIFORNIA!!!!! My 17th state and a new time zone!!!!!

5.) I just ate authentic chicken enchiladas made by the Flores Family, our hosts here in Brawley, CA. AUTHENTIC! I have never eaten something so beautiful! I need to digest like crazy. I love Mexico. I love Mexican food. I love Mexicans.

6.) Jenny made an "advent" calendar today for my last 12 days before I reach the Pacific Ocean. She never ceases to amaze me with her creativity. I love that girl!!!

See you on the 29th!!! Soooo close!
Katie