9/29 – Monday – Day 7 – 3h, 5mi (rain begins, lasts all nights, the beginning of four days of rain and walks in the rain, with breaks sufficient for meals).

9/30 – Tuesday – Day 8 – 4h, 6mi

10/1 – Wednesday – Day 9 – 2h, 3mi

10/2 – Thursday – Day 10 – 4h, 4mi

10/3 – Friday – Day 11 – 3h, 4mi

10/4 – Saturday – Day 12 – 6h, 10mi

10/5 – Sunday – Day 13 – 3h, 5mi

10/6 – Monday – Day 14 – 2h, 4mi

10/7 – Tuesday – Day 15 – 3h, 5mi

10/8 – Wednesday – Day 16 – 1h, 2mi

Notes

‘Accomplishments’ – (i) From wake to coffee including dressing and arranging tent in 8 minutes and 20 seconds (ii) Wash entire body and shave with 16 oz of water.

10/5 – Sunday: lovely setting sun over Lower Canyon Creek Meadows – bright and dark greens in the sun and shade, with blue sky above (see pictures)

10/5 – The key, the key; is minimality. But I want a hamburger, a beer, and my warm bed at home.

10/7 – Tuesday: lovely hike in the cool of the morning to a little beyond Sawtooth Overlook.

Those who write and live as I have, travel under a burden. It was not always thus. There were times of sunlight and friends. But now I have become naïve and am insufficiently oikophobic and generally critical. My narrative is inclusive and contains the grand. And I am kept prisoner by a dark lord in a distant world.

A hike in the rain

September 30 day eight three hours five miles in the rain. It's a good thing the challenger being in the rain. The y thing is messed up beyond belief. It hurts, it is screwing my life, but I have to keep it essentially simple. Replace everything by boundaries, no debate, silence, isolate, no complaint.

A family history

Robin, write family history it doesn't have to be totally accurate. It can be modified, embellished, and added to in various ways to make it a more interesting and significant read.

A hawk

October 7. I saw a hawk today. It was flying among tree branches. It landed. It moved from branch to branch. It seems to be feeding on something or feeding something there seem to be a smaller bird around which I thought might be appraised species, but it could’ve been young hooks in a hawk nest. I couldn’t tell. Anyway, there are photographs which are not too clear because of my iPhone’s limited magnification.

The real beginning of the excursion

Thus, though this is the last full day of this time in the Trinity Alps, the excursion has just begun. The forest is healing, but sometimes one has to go through hell to heal and see the truth.

I am 78

September 26 – I am 78 at noon today, PST, for it is 12:30 AM in India the time which I was born in 1947.

On age and term limits for elected and appointed representatives and others

I am not for age limits because—

· I do not think it would significantly resolve the issue of ability in government.

· Given the variability in age related capability, he would rule out essential ability when it occurs

How I think the issue may be addressed

Noting that while age is one concern, there are other issues of candidate suitability and ability.

What I think would be good is a set of disclosures that candidates and the point is should release

· Financial records – tax records, possibly financial history

· Legal – at least all felonies.

· Health records, and current health assessed by reliable specialists to include statistical projections, such as expected and physical decline.

· A statement of ethics– history and intent.

· Political records of position, supported and financial campaign sources with documentation.

On possible limits.

· Two terms for senators three for representatives.

· Further terms may be possible perhaps after gap of one term for senators and two for representatives

· Supreme, and other courts– perhaps 10 years with possible reappointment after awaiting period of five years. Note I do not think judges ought to be elected.

· Limits of duration of campaigns and financial contributions.