which way should I walk first?

I think I was the first to bed last night...it was only 12:40am when I stood contemplating my top bunk.  Apparently, my bunk is missing it's ladder...which shouldn't surprise me since half the bathrooms in this place have blocked toilets, the ceiling leaks, and I have only met a few people sober enough to care.  So, I have figured a few things out in the past twelve hours...

1. if I run and jump I can launch myself beached-whale style onto my top bunk

If I run and jump I can launch myself beached-whale style onto my top bunk

2. half the people in this hostel are working here, have worked here, or may soon work here.

3. there are three liquor stores, 12 bars, and 5 clubs in the surrounding 3 blocks

4. at high tide those people on the porch may find themselves treading water

5. all rooms are coed, that is a certain...and the hostel is supposedly full, but there always seem to be a few extra beds

6. any hostel that keeps a keg on the porch and both strobe lights and a fog machine on in the common room is truly hoping for a party every night

7. the hostel does not have a place to keep your bag and belongings...a sign above my bed states I should leave things on my bed...but what about when I am sleeping...guess they didn't think of everything

8. Sunsets here are incredible.  I may never leave this beach.  The hostel I could leave, the beach and the warm weather...that will be hard to give up

9. If one walks 11.6 miles in brand new shoes, one WILL get blisters

10. San Diego was made for vegetarians...okay maybe not, but there sure are a lot of options for food here and I can eat most of it

I started walking south on the Mission Beach boardwalk at 9:20am.  I walked 2.4 miles on the boardwalk, before turning left onto Mission Boulevard, walked through the park, over the Mission Bay bridge, past the lifeguard headquarters, over the San Diego River bridge, then on the path past Dog Beach, to Ocean Beach.  I had lunch with Johanna's former coworker Holly at a new restaurant called Craves, then I bought reflective tape, a bundle of bandaids, moleskin, medical tape, travel shampoo and conditioner, and a small lightweight cooking pot for my journey.  I later had a peach and orange juice smoothie (not a good combo) and walked on the Ocean Beach boardwalk.  Then, I walked back blistered feet and all, making sure to wade in the cold ocean water for the last 2.4 miles to reduce the swelling in my over-hiked feet.  Overall, I walked 11.6 miles today and now I can sit here, relax my feet and contemplate dinner.  I don't care what I eat, as long as it fills me up for tommorrow's hike.