Day 2

Writing about Day 2 has really been tough. Everyone had warned me it was the hardest day, not only physically but mentally as well. To be honest, I don’t remember much about the day. It was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.

Day 2 started (for me) at 4:45 am. Someone in one of the nearby tents must have gotten cold during the night and pulled out a Mylar blanket. Every time they moved it sounded like a giant bag of chips was being opened. And it may not rain in Southern California, but the overnight dew can get pretty darn heavy! I thought there had been a downpour during the night, but I was told, no, that’s dew. No wonder Mary Anne told me to make sure to bring a second tarp to go over the tent! The ground was soaked as I stumbled out of my tent and made my way across camp at 5 am to the café to get coffee and breakfast. Even though it was that early, the serving tent was packed with hundreds of other walkers with the same idea of getting an early start on the day.

While Day 1 had been overcast, Day 2 proved to be one of those brilliant, gorgeous days San Diego is famous for. And even though the high was only about 70 degrees, the shining sun made walking a little harder, sapping energy faster and dehydrating everyone. I don’t think I was that sore physically, since I’d been downing the ibuprofen like candy, but exhaustion made me feel like I was 110 years old (no offense is meant to any 110-year-olds out there who might be reading this!). And my feet weren’t feeling so hot, either. I had a pretty big blister on the side of my left heel that, fortunately, had drained during the night. It didn’t so much as hurt as ached. At least, I was aware of it. Within the first mile I was sooooo tempted to head back to camp. I had to keep telling myself, “look at the ocean, clear your mind, take in all the sights and sounds” to keep from thinking about quitting. I can’t tell you how many of the other walkers helped me, just by striking up a conversation.

My only real memory of that day is the hill at Sunset Cliffs. It just about killed me! Yes, the views of the ocean from the cliffs were stunning, but I was so hot, and my feet, legs and butt hurt so much, I was near tears. I just wanted to lie down along the curb and take nap. And at one port-a-potty visit I think I did doze off. Or go unconscious. I don’t know how long I was in there, but someone started pounding on the door asking me if I was ok!

I was delirious with happiness when I finally returned to camp that afternoon! After a much needed shower I crawled into my sleeping bag. I was too spent to go to sleep, but it was so nice not to be walking. I just laid there, listening to the sounds of the camp. Eventually it time to get up and head to the café to get some dinner. I wasn’t the only one who felt bad. Actually, I felt like I was an extra in Night of the Living Dead………
everyone I passed was walking stiffed legged, groaning in pain, with a glazed looked in their eyes, like zombies (but not the “fast” ones!).

I think I missed the rest of my teammates, as I didn’t see anyone I knew. I had the chicken and rice, and several cups of coffee, and watched some of the entertainment, hula dancers. It was all too much for my poor, addled brain to absorb, so I headed “home”. At the media tent I ran into Christine and Marvin and chatted with them for a while before they headed back to their tent. I stayed for a while longer, watching the slideshow of photos taken so far (yes, I was in several of them), talked to a couple of other walkers before heading off to bed. I was fast asleep by 7:30 pm, and didn’t even hear the waste truck empty the port-a-potties! I had survived Day 2!