PCT Day 23

Day 23

Miles 17

I’m up early and have to pack my whole tent away even though it didn’t rain. I’ve gotten use to cowboy camping and using my whole tent as a pillow. I’m walking by 5:45am. I’m slow at first as my feet warm up - they sit ache and I have to hike up a 2000 ft climb. The sun begins to peak over hills as I rise over the steeper ones. I pass a few hikers who’ve taken a break and get overtaken in turn by a few others. I look to the right and see the sun shining over numerous wind turbines. There are so many of them, most not turning yet in the feeble morning breeze. There are more to my left.

I ascend to the summit pleased to find Puss in boots and Kyle both chilling on seats beside a water cache which also has green apples. I grab one to eat and down a litre of water. Puss sets off while Kyle and I relax for a bit longer. It’s about 9 miles to the road and only another 500 ft to climb then it’s all down hill. I set off and reach the new wind turbines on the left and it feels like they’re multiplied. They glistened in the sun and I walk on. It’s lovely to descend and luckily  at this time of day this section is in the shade of the hill. Nearly all of the trees are burnt out, all black and dead. The green shrubs bloom with colourful flowers though.

I then start to descend. I’m wearing two pairs of socks which are working well to counter the rubbing on my feet. Kyle catches up in the end and we find Puss. It’s midday so we made good time. We start walking to layby to hitch a ride, thumbing every car that drives by. Amazingly it’s doesn’t take long for one to stop for the three of us. A large, white car pulls in and we hobble over to it as fast as we can. It’s a guy who is driving to Tehachapi who is fitting satellite dishes. We squeeze the 3 of us in and sit with our packs on our laps. His cars has electronic stuff everywhere.

We relax in the air con and it’s amazing to be moving so fast. It takes us about 20 minutes and we arrive in Tehachapi. He drops us at a junction and we head to a fast food joint. I buy a large burger and chips which pleases me greatly. It tastes so good….. We eat loads and start walking to a Great Western hotel. Then a random guy pulls over and offers to take us anywhere we want. We can’t believe our luck! He’s a day hiker and talks about the future water sources on the trail. He says they  are scarce….

We get to the hotel and get a room for 6 people. Snakebite (a lady from Australia whose names comes from being bitten by a snake in Australia) arrives just as we head to the room. We rock, paper, scissors for the first shower and I win. It feels amazing. We watch Planet of the Apes and chill as the others arrive. Some fit in our room while others get a second room next door. There are two double beds and others sleep on the floor. I head out with Snakebite for a look at the petrol station. It’s got a few snacks which we devour and decide to head to the supermarket tomorrow.

We then head into the pool. I sit half in half out munching on strawberries. Trying to get my fruit in for the day. We’re all planning on going to a grill house for tea, meat! It takes ages for everyone to shower and be ready but we eventually head out. It’s a mile walk away and then we find out it’s close about 15 mins earlier. So we just head to a greasy spoon place and takes up 12 seats. I get a tuna melt and chips….so good…. Then hiker midnight happens and we’re all so tired. A few of us pay and head back while others stay. I brush my teeth and crawl into bed. I’m awoken at 2 am by toothache which sucks. I take a paracetamol which numbs the pain and I’m able to sleep on.

Day 24 here

 

PCT Day 22

Day 22

Miles 23

I wake up for half 4 am and everyone is slowly getting ready to go, brushing teeth and sorting out bags. The owner of hiker town, Bob has kindly offered to drive our bags 17 miles down the trail so we could slack pack to the water source. We load our bags into his van and Puss in boots and I start walking slowly. My feet are really tight, the heel on my right and the sole on my left. It quieten downs after a while but I’m still aware of it.

The sun rises slowly over the aqueduct and creaks through the clouds. It is actually stunning and I can’t take my eyes off it. We talk all the way - about films, life, love, hiking, food, our futures, education, our upbringing, the PCT, books, writing, jobs. We get to the bridge which is the meetup point and catch up to the two hikers who hiked out last night. They say they heard a mountain lion stalk and kill a sheep next to their tent last night. We snooze in the shade, then the other hikes join us. We all chill and wait for two hours til our packs arrive.

We set off separately and I'm super slow. It’s so much hard work walking across the wind farm. The wind just blows right into me and it takes like four hours to walk from mile 535 to 541. On the way I stop for a sugary snack and get overtaken by two hiker. I trail them up the hill then get a signal and send a few messages. I pack my yucca stick away as it’s no good against the wind - being super light weight the wind is just blowing it all other the place. I get to the top and then descend into a valley. I catch the two hikers at the bottom where I find Walken and Puss in boots. It feels good to be out the wind so I chill for a bit. All the hikers who slept in Hiker town last night have arrived and we all set up camp in various places around the valley. A river flows through it and there are a few places to pitch tents.It's called
Tyler House Canyon.

I collect some water and set up for bed. It starts raining a bit and we put up our shelters then it clears, damn rain. I head to sleep but I can’t. It’s windy and my tent is too warm. But eventually I do and the wind dies down in the late morning.

Day 23 here

PCT Day 21

Day 21

15 miles

Eventually I get up and move under the gazebo where another guy is, then Gummi bear and the couple appear. The rain having awaken them early too. We move stuff around and get things out the rain. Then Terrie our trail angel invites us inside for pancakes. Amazing! We all sit around watching the news as the dogs watch us eat. We chill and we’re all very slow to get ready.

Were off by 12ish and Terrie points out parts of the town and how close her home was to a forest fire only 2 miles away. She drops us off at the local market and gives us all tight hugs. I say goodbye to the others and buy some food to post to Kennedy Meadows. I get talking to 3 guy outside who are all scratching money cards. They offered me a ride so I accept and they drive me to the post office. I don’t remember all their names but one was called Eddie and the dog was called Amber. The post office is closed for an hour over lunch so we all go for a ride on a dirt track. We head a few miles down the road and turn off up a hill. Were sliding all over the pace. My seatbelt doesn't work so I just tuck it under my arms. We skid to a stop and can see the Mojave desert, more wind turbines and a salt dried lake. We chat about English and American things like brolly/umbrella and then we are returning down to the road.

We goes skidding all over the place, the dog being held thankfully by one of the guys. My bag is in the hatchback and is bouncing all over the place. My food bags have exploded everywhere. We have two epic skids and return to the post office. I dash in, pack my food and mail it. I buy some postcard stamps too. The guys drive me to the edge of town and plan to drop me off there. We speed there doing a ridiculous speed and leave our seats as he speeds over a bump in the road. I’m pleased to be heading off on my own. I say goodbye and start my road walk.

It's about ten miles to the trail then I notice another road that cuts out even more time. So I decide to take that. I try to hitch but no one stops so I just walk the whole route. It rains a bit but at least it's not too hot, not sunny at all. I watch a vulture eagle fly over, its huge. I walk pass large ranches dried out by the draught, they all look derelict. I reach the main road and turn left. Its half a mile to Hiker Town which is an actual town made for hikers. It's someones house and land with lots of self made wooden shacks and static caravans smelling of damp.

I wander in and sit down next to some hikers and eat my noodles and a poptart. I’m hungrier than I first thought. I check my miles and see I’m at mile 518. It begins to rain and then I see Puss in boots and we hang out. We retreat into the garage where there are sofas and a shower which I use. I’m so sleepy after my lack of sleep I begin to fall asleep right there. A few more people come in and chill before the lights go off at 9 - hiker 1am. It's pitch black in the garage. I drift in and out of sleep and it's so dark so I keep thinking it's later then is it. I need the natural day light to be my clock.

Day 22 here