Day 31 ~ miles 517.6 - 535
After our super long day yesterday and our way late bedtime last night, we slept in until about 7 this morning. We didn't give it much consideration, but now realize that this was probably the worst possible day to sleep in. We took our time getting ready, did a few chores (washed our dishes and handwashed some clothes), and headed onto the trail around 8:30.
It was already hot, and quickly got hotter. Today, we would travel through the Mojave desert, across the Antelope Valley. We walked along/on top of the California and Los Angeles aqueducts for the entire day, which was almost torturous. We were rationing our water to make it through the day as huge pipes carried water beneath us to the big city. The desert floor's intense heat sapped our energy as we moved at a crawling pace. We took a lengthy break in the middle of the day under a Joshua Tree's tiny and constantly shifting shade.
Today was one of the most difficult days on the trail yet, despite the completely flat terrain. We finally made it to the water source, a cache (which we were depending on to be stocked, and it was), and decided to call it quits. We were so exhausted and dehydrated. Oh, remember that time we said we'd never camp by a wind farm again? Yea, well, we're doing it again. This time no tent, and conveniently there's a tiny lean-to here to shield the wind. Hoping for a better and cooler day tomorrow.
