We arrived today in West Adams near downtown Los Angeles to stay with Sophie my sister. It’s been over a year and a half since we last saw her!

The blog posts over the next 12 weeks will inevitably be much reduced as I’m not carrying any drawing, watercolour or reading material. Instead, all I have to record our journey will be a smart phone, pencils and a lined note pad. Mobile coverage and WiFi will be very limited.

I’ve a feeling that with so much time focusing on walking the miles Wednesday’s ‘Selfie’ will become predominant in the postings. I’m carrying no shaving gear so there should be some entertainment as I slowly disappear behind a beard. I’m thinking of other things to record – the number of hikers with headphones on, river crossings, campsites – that kind of thing but I’m sure this will change. We’re really looking forward to ‘hitting the trail dirt’ and enjoying America’s great wilderness.