Heat, Rattlesnakes and My New Studio

6:38 AM

Didn't sleep brilliantly. Lots of tossing and turning, and it was pretty chilly. Too lazy to grab a buff. Better prepared next time.

Up at 5:00 and packed my things without rushing. By 5:30 they were making pancakes with Nutella. There we go: a mountain of syrup, strawberries and banana on top. Breakfast is served.

A few more cups of hot water, then time to get ready to leave. Wave, wave… happy trails!!

6:59 AM

Unfortunately, the sun is already creeping above the hills that were giving us shade, so the fun doesn't last long.

7:46 AM

The temperature is getting less funny by the minute, and I'm already switching to salted water to try to retain some fluids.

8:47 AM

Time for a sit in the shade and a sandwich I grabbed from the shop yesterday.

From now on it's little stretches: walk 200 metres, find another shady spot. Stretch out under the bushes and wait until you've cooled down a bit.

I've got 1 litre of water left and need to make it last. The next water cache is 11 km away, which at this speed is still a good five hours of walking.

11:16 AM

Umbrella up, because this is getting unbearable. I'll have to make my own shade as I walk. It's actually quite nice: whenever there's a little breeze, it catches under the umbrella and you get a tiny moment of relief.

Slightly less nice having to squeeze yourself and the umbrella through the bushes every so often.

2:17 PM

3:10 PM

Oops, nearly stepped on a rattlesnake 🤪 Just pulled my foot back in time, and only then did the snake get a fright. It coiled up and started rattling its tail. So startled that it promptly disappeared backwards into the bushes.

Sorry, sorry, I'll pay more attention next time. But honestly, who goes to sleep right in the middle of the path 🤔 Not exactly the brightest idea either!

3:15 PM

Well, getting to that water cache took a while. Completely out of water, I greet two American hikers with a mouth like sandpaper. Water!!!!!

I quickly fill two bottles and add electrolytes. Make myself a little bed among the bushes and drink a litre in one go. My kidneys probably won't thank me, but needs must. A little nap now, let the body recover.

The Americans are smoking weed, coughing and laughing like a pair of idiots. I leave them to it. Me first.

6:09 PM

I really need to move now. It's getting dark, and there's nowhere to pitch a tent here. Quickly collect 4 litres of water and carry on.

A long descent, then back up the next mountain range. The lowest part is a predictable disaster: mosquitoes 😡. There are campsites, but I'm not becoming the daily special for that scum — animal, mosquito, whatever. Animal 🤔? Let's just call it an evolutionary mistake. They could have gone extinct with the dinosaurs as far as I'm concerned.

So up we go again, crawling out of the clammy valley.

8:34 PM

My new studio for the foreseeable future.

The rent is just about manageable, although the monthly bills are ridiculous. Must be a California thing. The bed has had an upgrade: from memory foam to fresh oxygen every day. Just that little bit nicer, floating on a thick, warm cloud.

The kitchenette has a single burner with views over the Californian landscape. No induction, just a robust propane-and-butane blend. Living room and bathroom are shared to keep costs down. In return, I have my own comfortable armchair with built-in food storage.

The shower and facilities are extremely high-end: running water at all times. Wonderfully refreshing, with that subtle combination of erosion and water providing an automatic scrubbing brush and a comfortable osmosis feeling.

So there you have it: my temporary new studio.