Turn It On Its Head — IRob Treks

This is it! With only a few days left before setting off on a one-way flight to San Diego to begin the Pacific Crest Trail, the reality and scale of this undertaking is palpable. So much research has gone into trying to prepare for and understand the challenges that lie ahead but the feeling of having so much still to do and to organize is unsettling.

In order to pursue this adventure I am having to walk away from a great job and the security of reliable income, 10 years into my architecture career. This will be the longest stretch of 'unemployment' I have experienced since I was 14 or 15 years old. Many of my belongings have been moved into storage and the bill is paid for the next 6 months. Necessary bills like credit card, phone and accident insurance have been set to autopay and the rest have been cancelled.

In the thick of last minute arrangements, I squeezed in a trip to visit my grandad with my lovely lady and spent time with my aunt, uncle and cousins, all of whom I had not seen in over two years. We camped in style on my family's land, equipped with a four wheeler, a two burner stove and water to spare! My uncle even came and cleared the site with a weed eater and stocked us with fire wood. I don't expect any such luxuries for the next 5 1/2 months.