Start: 1200 - Ridgecrest (Motel 6)
End: 2100 - PCT mile 657
Miles (today): 7.5 (6 PCT, 1.5 off)
Miles (cumulative): 678 (573 PCT, 89.5 alternate, 15.5 off)
Sleep is a good thing. I'm not back to 100% but enough time has been wasted in a motel room - the trail calls. It bothers me to know I have managed to put us 2 days behind schedule; it bothers me even more to know I'm probably not going to have the opportunity to meet up with hikers I haven't seen in a while at Kennedy Meadows like I once thought.
It was another 0.5 mile road walk to Wal-Mart, where we were meeting the bus. Happily, it was only in the low 90s so the walk wasn't bad at all. We ended up hanging out in the Albertsons grocery store next door while we waited the two hours for the bus. It was pleasant - there was a Starbucks inside and we found a nice table at which we sat and relaxed. When I went up to customer service to inquire about borrowing a pen and purchasing a stamp (I wanted to mail an important letter to my father), the wonderful lady who works there handed me a pen and told me they only sell books of stamps; However, she gave me a stamp from her purse. I tried to buy the stamp from her but she wouldn't have it. Her name is Vanessa and she rocks. :)
By the way, just in case you find yourself in dire need of the bathroom facilities at the Albertsons in Ridgecrest, just go straight down aisle 8.
I walked down aisle 8 a lot. :/
When we finally got on the bus (we actually got on this time!), it was full of hikers we didn't know. It felt strange at first until I reminded myself that meeting new people is what makes this experience so special. I found myself feeling a little wistful again for the familiar faces I'm going to miss at Kennedy Meadows but quickly realized I'm just going to have to get over it. :)
When we got back to Walker Pass (once again having to walk 1 mile of the trail twice to ensure a continuous footpath - if only we had known the bus doesn't drop you off at the campground!) we got to see Coppertone AND Yogi (Yogi wrote a book about the PCT which we have been following quite a bit). The whole place was full of hikers we hadn't yet met - we seem to have stumbled upon an entirely different 'herd'.
Our niece Maddie along with Theresa made a whole bunch of clay figurines for us to give to trail Angels (which I forgot about until just recently, sorry!) so Coppertone was the first recipient.
Yogi had chili and fruit and salad and all sorts of snacks - it was great. Of course, this meant we stayed at Walker Pass a lot longer than I wanted (I had hoped to get in at least 12 miles today) but oh well. I never do well when faced with two conflicting things I want to do - I wanted to enjoy Yogi's generous trail magic but I also wanted to get hiking ASAP. I suppose if that's my biggest issue then I'm doing ok. :)
that's Yogi there in red (cutting cake)
We ended up leaving Walker Pass around 1800 so we didn't make it too far. Hopefully we'll get an early start tomorrow and hopefully I'll be feeling even better (I still feel a little nauseous after eating).
Lots of hikers out here tonight - this is a huge herd.
The sunset was beautiful (the good part about hiking late in the evening - usually we are in the tent and sleeping by sunset).
