(Nero = near zero)

Sleeping in this morning was great, although I’m so used to getting up with the sun that I only slept in an extra 30 min or so.  Still, knowing we only had about an hour to hike allowed me to take my time and truly enjoy breakfast (to include the last of Cindy’s muffins and Mary’s famous breakfast bar).  

On the trail, we bumped into Cool Whip and her friend, PokéMom, going SOBO (southbound).  PokéMom is joining Cool Whip for about 100 miles of her hike and I wished her happy trails.  It was great to see Cool Whip and chat with her a bit.

The miles flew by, and almost immediately I was at Spring Creek Pass, where we saw Alexi (the last time we saw him was in Cuba).  And then it was time to hitchhike, which I always dread.  Firstly, I hate the feeling of rejection when people don’t stop, and on top of that I feel bad for possibly making them feel bad for not stopping. 

Traffic was light and the first truck that drove by didn’t stop (but at least the occupants waved).  Then a car with an awesome paint job came, but it was going the wrong direction.  

But wait!  The car with the awesome paint job turned around where we were standing and let out a hiker (Tom, who me met briefly yesterday).  We asked if maybe we could have a ride back to town and the driver, Tom (not to be confused with the hiker of the same name) said, “you bet!”.  

Phew!

Tom was a great tour guide - he kept up a delightful banter the entire ride to Lake City, telling us about the snowmobile trails, how the wood from the dead pine trees is used, and about life in Lake City. Once we got to Lake City, he took the time to drive us through town (it’s not big, so it wasn’t a huge investment), pointing out restaurants, the post office, the grocery store, and The Bakery.  He would have taken us to the RV park where we are staying, but Nick was hungry so Tom let us off at his regular breakfast place, Chillin’.  Tom was a lot of fun and I’m grateful we didn’t really have to hitch.  

I wasn’t quite hungry because of all the food I ate for first breakfast, but somehow I still managed to eat the grilled cheese and egg sandwich I ordered for second breakfast.  Delicious.

At the RV park we showered and set up the tent and did laundry.  The usual.

At the RV park we also met a hiker named G-String.  Or rather, I saw that a G-String was also camping here and remembered a G-String from PCT ‘16.  When we walked up to the hiker’s picnic table and a hiker with a vaguely familiar face introduced himself as G-String, I had to ask if he hiked the PCT in 2016.  His response was, “are you Beth?”.  

We met G-String early on the PCT, before any of us had trail names.  Even though we only saw each other a handful of times on the PCT, it’s unbelievable how much we have to talk about now.  He’s hiking with Woodpecker and I really like her, too.  It was fun catching up. 

Other hikers staying here are Monk, Onion, Squints, Pat, Chany, and Sledge.  I also had some great chats with Nurse and Coach before they went back to the trail (Nurse draws every day on trail and I really enjoyed flipping through his notebook).  While I do like sleeping in a legit bed when we get into town, sometimes staying in places like this and getting to know other hikers is great, too.

The camp hosts working at this RV park are phenomenal.  Not only did they let Nick and I borrow their e-bikes so we could get our resupply from the post office (I love riding bikes around town!), but they offered to bring us back to the trail tomorrow morning. (We don’t have to hitch!)

While we had the e-bikes, we also stopped at The Bakery everyone raved about for a late lunch and went to the grocery store for a few snacks (like apples and blueberries).  I had a blast riding the e-bike around town.  I’ve never ridden on one before and I was amazed at how much pedal assistance those things can provide!  (I wanted to take it as fast as it could go but I didn’t have a helmet so I kept it on the low/off setting).

Back at the RV park, we sorted the food (always a pain).  This time Mary included some banana bread, with an “eat at your own risk” note that made me laugh.  I ate some at my own risk and thought it was delicious. 

I also cleaned my filter again (lightly tapping it to help loosen all the gunk is a great cleaning technique and I’m grateful I learned the technique from the hiker in Pie Town) and fixed Nick’s gaiters.  On one, I had to sew the clip that holds them to the laces back on, on the other I had to sew the Velcro back on.  The needle we had broke just as I started, so I did my best to sew using a curved suture needle (it’s the only one the RV host had).  While I sewed, I chatted with G-String and Woodpecker a little more, which was great.  It could have been the best part of the day, but it wasn’t.  

The best part of the day by far was when Nick and I went to Lake City Café for an early dinner.  Since there weren’t any tables available, we sat at the bar.  We chatted a bit with the owner (I think he was the owner), who is really concerned about forest fires this year (we are, too).  After 10 minutes or so an older couple sat next to us - the husband sat closest to me and the wife was on his other side.  

The man, Alan Grogman (I think that’s his last name), was an absolute joy to talk to.  He and his wife, Ann, are originally from Northern England but have been in the US for over 40 years.  Alan used to be a doctor and he asked all about what we were doing, where we were going next, and how long we thought this might take us.  And he asked it again.  And again.  And again.  Ann kept telling him to leave me alone so I could eat, but I told her not to worry, he wasn’t bothering me.

And he wasn’t bothering me, not in the slightest.  I LOVED talking to him.  Every time he asked a duplicate question, I answered it like it was the first time he asked it.  When he told me the same story for the third time, it was still my first time hearing it.  And he had so many other great things to talk about it didn’t matter if he was repetitive at times.  I would have answered his questions over and over all night if I could, he was just wonderful.  It felt good to be in his presence and to listen to what he had to tell me.

As we were leaving, Ann pulled me aside and tried to apologize for Alan, saying what was blatantly obvious- he has Alzheimer’s.  I told her that no apology was needed.  Then, on impulse, I hugged her, whispering that I used to work in a nursing home and have seen what she’s going through many times.  I told her that Alan is a great man and that she shouldn’t ever feel like she has to apologize for him.  Then I told her I admired her.  She smiled and nodded and almost cried. 

I definitely cried as we walked back to the RV park - Alan is a true gentleman and Ann is what my friend Wendy would call a true lady and Alzheimer’s is awful.  I wish there was something I could do for them both, it breaks my heart.  I’m tearing up again as I write this because I just realized I should have given him a clay figure - he would have gotten a kick out of it.  Damn.

—————Two bucks just ran right in front of the picnic table at which I’m sitting, I think to cheer me up a bit (it worked).  I wasn’t quite fast enough with the camera, though. 

I’d love to have a snack before bed, but our food is locked up in the office because BEARS.  And the rest of the eat at your own risk banana bread was gone when we got back from dinner.  Sigh.  I guess I’ll just starve, then.  :)

To Alan and Ann.  (I know it’s Ann and not Anne because when I told her my middle name is Anne she asked how mine was spelled, with an e or without.  (We Ann/Anne’s get our names misspelled a lot.)

Around town: