PCT Day 20

Day 20

24 miles

Up for 5am and were all up. Were hiking in the dark and getting the 2 miles road walk out of Agua Dulce done. We get to the hills and begin ascending up. The sun is just beginning to warm the hills and I speed up trying to make as much ground as I can to avoid ascending climb in the heat. It's a slow climb but I eventually get to the top where we all regroup and descend to the water. It's a slow trickle and 2 other hikers are already there. There's a queue but once I have the water with my steripen I’m able to cleanse my water fast and am walking again swiftly. Wasps and flies swarm around the water so I’m glad to be away.

It a downhill walk and I arrive at a road. I pause to see to a blister then walk on and up again through the heat. I dodge the sun behind bushes every so often. Puss in boots and Gummi bear pass me but I eventually reach the top. To then head down and relax in the Oasis shade with Gummi bear. It's not really shady but it’s better than nothing. The couple join us and we all nap for 2 hours until 2pm. We snack on food and set off one by one. I decided to make my own way via the dirt track road which eventually meets the road. It’s all downhill which is lovely and it takes me about 40 mins until I hit the outskirts of the town. I walk past a dead racoon and keep going. I’m so happy this route worked.

I reach the town shop and head in. Two women are chatting at the counter and 3 kids are running around. I get a large pepsi, some milk, more sunglasses and a straw hat, finally - been needing this hat for a while. I walk on and make my way to Casa de Luna - hiker trash heaven. The roads are thankfully shaded by trees and I see an open front garden and it looks like heaven. Surprisingly it’s empty and I enter passing the tables and cushioned sofas, power plugs, recycling, stones which you can paint and a massive white sheet to sign. I head up to the door and ring the doorbell. A large guy with a slight beard answers and welcomes me. He points out where I can sit, the rules, shower with fresh towels and where to camp.

I chill for a bit pleased to have made it. I video call a friend and wonder where everyone is. I then have shower which is fed by a hose and heated by a gas cylinder. I wash my underware and me and chill out in the front garden. I clean my feet and sort out my blisters listening to Apocalyptica as the other roll in 2 hours later. So glad I road walked. I get amused verbal abuse from Gummibear who curses me and wishes he’d come with me now.

We sit around as everyone relaxing - the couple and Gummi bear get showers and we all wear hawaiian shirts. Mrs Anderson comes out and sorts tea. Nachos and dip, salad, sauce and cheese - all together and it’s satisfying. I obviously eat loads and then there is fruit. So much food! I feel good, my feet feel good. We all sit around chatting about hiking. Casa de Luna is such a lovely place it’s going to be hard to leave. We talk until half 9 - which is way pass hiker midnight and eventually peel off to bed one by one. Everyone is encamped round the back and I try to sleep on the large hammock in the front but can’t get comfy. I then eventually fall asleep on the random bed that's outside. I think I fall asleep at midnight before awakening at 4 am due to a small rain shower. It goes and I’m able to fall back to sleep and wake at 6am when the rain gets heavier.

Day 21 here

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