Today marked the beginning. We acknowledged this symbolically by dipping our rear wheels in the pPacific, as we saw it for the last time from Sunset Beach, OR.
We then began to head to our first campsite. As expected on a first day, we encountered many technical issues, which, although time consuming, were eventually resolved, and we completed our sub-40 mile journey to the Gnat Creek Campgrounds by 7pm. After a few trials, a fire was born, thanks largely to dry brush and a resilient lighter. Chicken quesadillas were sufficient for dinner, and we boiled stream water for lack of other options. Then we went to sleep!