Days 19, 20 and 21 in LA.....August 2012

Hello bloggers! Didn't write over the weekend.....so, writing for Sat, Sunday and today! Not a lot to report. I took Shea to an organic-vegan restaurant Sat. night. I couldn't breathe she had me laughing so hard. She was making fun of everything.... But, as she would take a bite ~ it surprisingly tasted good to her! ha! Yesterday we thought we would be healthy and go on a nice hike. Shea went online to check out places. She found a place ~ a National Park ~ not too far from the apartment. She said the info stated it was an "easy" hike. We were ready....we had a backpack filled with 4 waters...we had our phones....we were covered in suncreen....we would succeed! We were on the trail around 2pm. OK ~ I'm making a phone call to the National Park Service....this was NOT an easy hike! Good grief...we both were sliding off rocks...stepping on stones to cross creeks...WITH SNAKES....oh and yeah Shea STEPPED on one ~ she "thought" it was a stick....NOPE ~ a snake! :( I was straddling logs just to stay on the "path?" Ok...so, we are on our "hike" an hour and a half....we see a marker....and see that yes, right is the correct way to go(we are trying to get to Spritzer Falls to jump in and cool off).....when I say difficult ~ that is an understatement....I ended up in tears....and pulled my back....after an hour of clinging to rock edges for our life....and seeing NO OTHER human life....I said Shea I can't go any further....and why aren't we seeing other hikers? Ok ~ we are almost three hours on this hike now...I've pulled my back...we're lost....and we have 1 1/2 waters left....think I forgot to mention that California has been enduring a heatwave this week.....had I KNOWN it was going to be a "rock-climbing hike" I most definitely would have packed more waters! Sooooo, we hike BACK to that marker(an hour)....there is a couple walking up from the OPPOSITE direction, we ask where Spritzer Falls is.. he says...."Oh, just around that corner?!!!" Aarrrrrrgggghhhhh! I tell Shea to go on....my 52 year old back is screaming!!! She goes....comes back very unimpressed with the waterfall....good times! ha! Oh this is FUN! The exciting news now is ~ we have to hike BACK the hour and a half hike we made in the first place to this spot. We're down to one water now. The sun is starting to go down....I'm thinking ok...we didn't tell anyone where we were going....there ARE coyotes, bears, bobcats, etc. in this area....and our phones have NO signals....seriously, if you were to get bitten or hurt out there....there is NO help....that WILL be your final resting place! We have no food....no first-aid kit....definitely not well planned! So....Shea tells me she could jog back...(isn't she precious!)...I'm limping...and sweating....and praying.....and can see Shea way up the trail....nice?! The GOOD news we made it....Praise God....we were pretty dehydrated...and filthy....few scrapes and bruises....but, we are good! Kind of....I've been taking Aleve ~ and alternating ice and heat on my back all day....tough getting older! ha! You can bet If and When we go on another hike ~ Momma Bear will be reading up on the site and get thorough info on it! Today....well, it's been and R and R day for us....! Til tomorrow.....