500 Miles.

The big 500 miles completed! I didn't realise until I was virtually on top of it and happened to check the map. No great ceremony, Hojo was with me and we shook hands in typical bloke fashion.

"Well done Canadian", he said (he refers to me as the Canadian for some reason, something to do with the fact that I'm a foreigner).

The temperatures are in the high 90's, flies constantly buzz annoyingly around my face and are replaced with mosquito's when the sun goes down. The heat is stifling, the only respite coming from occasional shade when I walk through a forest, but that never lasts long.

My feet are still not in good shape. They should have bedded in and the blisters should have been dealt with but only this week I have had another 4 to contend with, as well as a dead toe nail and to cap it all, I stubbed my toe yesterday and took a chunk of skin off.

I have had enough of the desert, the heat, the dirt, the constant lack of water. Everybody feels the same, it was a different environment at first, and it is beautiful, but we've been here for too long and crave new scenery.

In 200 miles we hit Kennedy Meadows and the start of the High Sierra. Higher elevation, stunning views, an abundance of water, cooler temperatures. It's what everyone is craving, we need new scenery like never before.

I have 2 x 20 mile days and then I'll have a days rest in a place called Tehachapi. Then, about 10 days walking to the start of the Sierra. Word is that late snowfall means there are some difficult sections to contend with but it is melting.

Next update with video in about 3 or 4 days.