Start: 0646 - near Saloon Creek trail junction
End: 1700 - Sawyers Bar Road (to Etna - Alderbrook Manor)
Miles (today): 23
Miles (cumulative): 1642 (1480 PCT, 94 alternate, 68 off)
Hiking today was pretty typical- there was a lot of elevation gain, even more elevation loss (ugh), we saw and chatted with several day hikers, and another hiker caught me during a bathroom emergency (why do those things always happen to me when there is nowhere good to hide?!). LOL
yep. Going up and then up some more... I still can't decide if seeing how far you have to go is a blessing or a curse. Also: the trail continued to wind around the mountain, so when I turned the corner at the top there was a lot more up
We leapfrogged Ripper and Bushwhack all day - I say we because Nick is super fast now that his pack fits him again. I'm happy for him but also a little bummed to once again be the slow one (he beat me to the road by 30 minutes.) I cannot deny that being behind Nick really frustrates me for some reason. I know it's not a competition but I can't help but feel inadequate when I can't keep up with him, particularly on the downhills. (Then again, maybe if my ankle miraculously heals during tomorrow's zero I'll be better able to hold my own.)
Getting a hitch to Etna took a while because there wasn't much traffic on the road (on average about 1 vehicle per hour). If I had been faster we would have had a ride right away - Bushwhack had already secured a ride when Nick made it to the road. Nick looked back at the trail, saw DW, thought she was me, and asked if there was room for two more. Alas, it wasn't me (see, this is why I hate being behind), so Nick gave up the ride to wait for me (he's so sweet). At least DW didn't have to wait.
Tripper got to the road about 10 minutes after I did and the three of us waited for 45 minutes for a vehicle to come by. Two park ranger trucks passed us up (really? You'd think they would stop) and then , happily, two of the day hikers I had talked to earlier, Annette and Judy, drove by and gave us a ride. They were so nice and full of life!
waiting for a car to come by with Nick and Ripper.
the lovely ladies who stopped to give us a ride to Etna, Annette (avocado) and Judy (turtle).
Once at the Hikers Hut of Alderbrook Manor we did laundry and showered. They have loaner clothes here (yay!) so I was able to wash everything (and trust me, everything needed to be washed). We also ran into quite a few hikers we haven't seen in a long time- Mountain Man, Gazelle, Flash, and G-String. They were all on their way back to the trail but we had time to hug and quickly catch up - it's good to know that we aren't too far behind, although in a few weeks, when Nick reports to drill, we will be. Guac, Whitney Shoeston, and Prancer were already here, chilling in the hiker hut.
By far, the best part of the day was when Nick, DW, and I decided to get dinner. Alderbrook Manor has bikes for guests to use and it was SO MUCH FUN riding them to the restaurant. Flying downhill with the wind rushing through my hair made me feel like a kid again (and my ankle really enjoyed not having to walk anymore.). DW and I laughed the entire way. :)
me and DW on our bikes
On the way to the restaurant we saw Dilly Dally, Smiles, and Trigger in front of the library. They got off the trail about 20 miles back because Dilly really needed a break (her ankle is messed up, too). We invited them to eat with us.
We decided to eat at Bob's Ranch House because someone told us there was an all you can eat buffet for $10. I was skeptical, however, because Annette and Judy told us NOT to eat there because the food wasn't the best. Annette and Judy were right about the food; However, I'm glad we decided to go there because we ended up eating with a lot of hikers - Bushwhack, Ripper, Cliffhanger, Prancer, DW, Smiles, Dilly Dally, Trigger, and Roadrunner NOLA. It was great. (Trigger is one of the hikers who went to the music festival in Belden Town and he said it was a great time. I'm sad we missed it.)
After dinner, some of us went to the Dollar General across the street to get trail snacks. On the way back to Alderbrook Manor I once again found myself giggling uncontrollably as I rode my bike on the road in the dark with no lights (or helmet). Here I am, a grown, usually intelligent woman, doing something an irresponsible teenager would do. It was so fun! (And yes, dangerous- kids, don't ever ride your bike in the dark without the proper illumination or safety gear). Don't worry, Moms - Etna is such a small town there wasn't any traffic to worry about.
our bikes in front of the DG
Back at Alderbrook, Nick and I sat at a table and shared a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. DW, Bushwhack, Ripper, Prancer, and Cliffhanger sat around the table with us and we talked until 1100. I almost feel like a normal person again! I mean, sitting at a table is so much more refined than sitting on the ground or, if you're lucky, a log or rock. Either way, you are always hunched over your food on the trail - having a table is really nice. :)
We have reservations to stay in the house as official bed and breakfast guests tomorrow, but tonight we will be camping in the backyard. It's a beautiful yard so I don't mind. Plus, knowing I don't have to get up to hike tomorrow is a nice feeling - it's exactly how I used to feel about Friday nights when I was working.
Along the trail:
