PCT Day 19

Day 19
Miles - 10

It feels so good to sleep in and chill. I inevitably wake before the crack of dawn but relish at the decision to stay here till after the midday heat. Roadrunner heads off early and a freight train speeds by at 4am and coyotes yell and cry in the distance. Poptart left the night before, determined to keep her miles high. We were all awake by 5 am, I can hear Walken and Puss in Boots chatting away loudly, Noah appears having slept in the bushes nearby. We chill pleased not to be in a rush to go.

We chat, eat, stretch, got for showers again, wait for the shop to open and be happy. We head to the shop when it opens and I buy some food then we are offered food; a lot of pancakes to be exact from the boy scouts. There were three large trays of them with fruit and milk and orange juice so good. I had 6 then I had a few more later and free cake. So much food….. It’s so hot, pushing 40℃ so we just spend the day relaxing or rather wilting in the shade. I nap and vaguely plan things. Hikers roll in and a few roll out. I’m trying to push it as far as I can to avoid the heat. I eventually say bye to people and head out at half 3 and its still so hot.

Pussin boots over takes me and I flag behind, a few miles in and I lay down in the shade of the hill side and just lay on the trail. I’m so knocked out by the heat and the direct sun light. I eventually head up and climb over the hill. Thankfully it’s beginning to get cooler. I enter Vasquez rocks where a few things were filmed like Star trek and The Flintstones. It's awesome but not as awesome as entering permanent shade. The names of plants are sign posted along the way and the rocks are funky shapes and have many layers within them. I have about 4 miles left to go and enter a cool drain pipe.

I make it out and head up into Aqua Dulce known as Sweet water and take a short cut but a road isn’t there so I end up walking an extra mile. I road walk and eventually get to the grocery store. Everyone, the couple, Gummibear and Puss in boots are eating dinner. I buy my food at the store and quickly pack it into my bag. We fill our water and decided to camp next to the grocery store on the sandy land there. It’s still really warm from the day and the night is starry.

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I can’t quite put my finger on it and don’t think I’ll ever be able to be but there is something about hiking or maybe just moving under your own steam from one place to the other and sleeping in the dirt, surrounded by good company. Even with your own company I find it rewarding. As I lay there that night I felt at one with everything. Even though I was sleeping on some disused land, next to the shops as cars drove by through the town. It felt completely normal and right and  the stars were immense that night. I lay there watching them as I slowly fell asleep.

Day 20 here

PCT Day 18

Day 18

26 miles

We wake up and were all ready for 5 am. The other two go on up first and I trail behind. It was a monotonous hill and I luckily signal half way up allowing me to listen to Apocalyptica which takes my mind off the hill. I find a dirt road and walk on for a few miles before descending down to the PCT again. I meet a hiker called Walken - named because of his impression of Christopher Walken. We’d met briefly last night before he’d decided to night hike. We hike up the hill talking of America, England, hiking, eating and the campsite coming up ahead.

Once at the top we chill for a bit on the log and eat lunch, ready to walk the 13 miles down to the campsite. We keep talking of the campsite which is quite commercial with showers and pizza delivery. The sun is warming up slowly and I can feel it warming my face. We zigzag descending the hill and alarm a rattlesnake. We both jump and dart away. As the day goes on we get slower and slower and the miles take longer to complete. We go down and make it to the ranger station where a volunteer is working. There is a choice of pop cans and chocolate bars. I donate a 1$ and down a coke and Mars bar. The guy who seems lonely comes out to talk and has loads of valuable info about the trail and the surrounding area. We then chat in the shade for 20 mins about America.

It takes us ages to head to KOA campsite. I bash out the first 4 miles then slow down, the zigzagging back, round and down teasing me. As the crow flies the campsite is a mile away but on the trail it’s like 6 miles. I take off my shoes and chill and wait 15 mins for Walken to catch up. We walk barefoot for the next 2 miles and take a break, put our shoes on and get on the road then get to the campsite! It feels good to be there. We find Roadrunner and Noah - Rocky’s friend and leave our bags on the wooden bandstand which has plugs! We head to the shop and I buy a twix ice cream and chocolate muffin. Then Pussin boots arrives and we ordere pizza. I get a medium cheese pizza which tastes epic! Then go for an amazing shower my feet grimey as and then I get into my sleeping bag for 10pm zzz. I feels good to be still, well fed and soon to be asleep. I don’t set an alarm as I plan to take the morning off. I know I’ll still wake up early though.

Day 19

 

PCT Day 17

Day 17

34 miles

Waking at 5 am I can hear Roadrunner and Puss in boots moving about. It’s till dark in the morning twilight. I can see Puss in Boots red head torch flickering between the trees. I could hear them dismantling their tents and then they were gone. Poptart was next and then I was next. I was swift to pack my tent and sleeping bag away and I was soon descending through the pine forest, the path ladened with rocks. My trusty Yucca stick setting the rhythmic timing that goes with walking.

It was a beautiful morning and the moon drifted lazily in the pale blue sky. I headed down to the road which lead back up to the trail but I decided to hike on the road. It was quicker and meant I would not have to go up or down needlessly. So off I went. It was actually quite nice walking along it at 6am with no traffic. Steep drop were on my left and a flat row of clouds lay in the distance. The trail crossed the road again but I stayed on the road. I headed through two tunnels and saw a stoney drain leading under them. I arrived at a picnic site, had breakfast and walked on, the next water source was coming up in a campsite. I pass a derelict ski lifts and old ski resorts as the sun slowly got warmer. A park ranger stopped to ask If I was OK, then said water was a mile away. Maybe he thought I needed help since I was walking along the road.

At the campsite I re-plaster my feet, brush my teeth, ate snacks, brush my hair and then Poptart and Roadrunner arrived. We chat for a bit then I walked on. I return to the road and eventually rejoin the PCT where I meet the 400 mile mark. I cross the road and chill at a car picnic place to devour a Mars bar. Walking on I pass a car with a lone Korean man who gives me some wine rice bread which is pretty tasty and I made my way back onto the trail. I walk up a few hundred feet and I’m pleased that the sun is omitted by clouds. I walk into a rattlesnake and retreated 3 steps back. It eventually moves after a minute but still rattles at me as it passed. Then I met a bigger one on a verge just above the path. I hop, skip and jump when I hear it, as you are a bit disorientated and unsure where they are at first. Luckily I saw no more.

I was about ten miles away from the water source - 34 mile day! I push on, the thought of snakes making me forget I’m climbing. Then I arrive into a beautiful green and flowery meadow and startled a trio of deer. I got signal and chat to a friend and send a few emails, 6 miles to go. I zigzag down out of the valley and eat gummy rings as I go. I’m getting close and very eager to end my 34 mile day. Down and down I go till I’m a few miles away and Blond Shadow turns up on time. I can see him behind flicking in and out of sight. I get to the water pump and filled up. Blond Shadow catches up and we chat for a bit before he night hikes on. I chat with a few hikers when Poptart and Road runner arrived. They haven’t seen Puss in boots all day. We cowboy camp in front of the fire station and I wake up at 2 am due to the big spot light of the moon in my face.

 

Day 18 here