Start: 0800 - PCT mile 1256.5
End: 1900 - Terry and Nancy's 1261
Miles (today): 4.5
Miles (cumulative): 1301 (1153 PCT, 91.5 alternate, 56.5 off)
Well, we WERE going to go to Quincy...but then we saw this sign on the trail and changed our plans:
What makes these Angels so special is that they are secret (hence the need to block out info)
As much as I was looking forward to hitching to Quincy so we could stay at the expensive room with the heart shaped jacuzzi tub (written with sarcasm), staying with some Trail Angels sounded perfect.
It IS perfect. Terry and Nancy are smart to keep this place secret - doing so makes it special and low key.
Terry picked us up at the trailhead (no need to hitch). Since we were the first ones here, Nick and I get to sleep in the one room they have (other hikers sleep on the deck). They cooked us breakfast (our second of the day) of huge pancakes, scrambled eggs, the best bacon I've ever had in my life, coffee, and orange juice.
Fed Ex, a section hiker, showed up soon after us - he's already hiked Washington and his stories about the cold rain scare me (my hands might be perpetually white and Nick might be doing all the chores in Washington). Nick took a much-needed nap (I wanted to nap but hikers kept coming in and I got caught up in socializing.) I didn't think there was any way we'd know anyone - I feel pretty far behind at the moment - but Smiles, Dilly Dally, and Cedric (now C-Dog) are here! Hobbit (who we camped next to coming out of Soda Springs) is here, too, and it's been great getting to know him. (He and Safety First are runners so guess what we talked about. :) ) Safety First also gave me some book recommendations, which I can't wait to try when the hike is over (I haven't yet figured out how to fit in time for reading while on the trail.) Oh! And I also learned that the bird I often whistle back to while on the trail is a Mountain Chickadee.
Lunch was burgers with chips. I was still full from breakfast but I wasn't about to turn down a burger with all the fixings! It was great. I'm definitely going to gain back the weight I lost (which is a-ok with me).
Nick fixed his umbrella (yes, it broke again), he fixed the broken tent zipper, Nancy helped me mend a hole in my shirt (created from the friction between the clasp on my sports bra and my pack), and Nancy helped Nick patch up the holes in his gaiters. We got a lot accomplished (except they don't have wifi at the moment so I couldn't update the blog).
I took a trip to the store and bought some ice cream and a few extra snacks to get me through tomorrow. Nick and I shared the ice cream with Smiles, Hobbit, and Dilly Dally - it's so fun to sit around a tub of ice cream with other hikers, all of us eating with our camp spoons (I seriously love my long handled titanium spoon.)
Nick fixing his broken umbrella, Smiles in the background getting reacquainted with the accordion
Dinner was corn on the cob, salad, garlic bread, and lasagna. IT WAS FABULOUS! Even better, we all sat around the same table and had some great discussions about life on the trail and about what it will be like when this is all over. The conversation made me realize that, as much as I struggle sometimes, I really will miss the trail life when it's over - and I'll especially miss days like today.
Dinner with Hobbit, Dilly Dally, Smiles, Firewhistler, Banjo, Days Late (southbounder), Fed Ex (section hiker), Nick, C-Dog, me, Safety First (section hiker)
After dinner we had a campfire and s'mores and we enjoyed some great music - guitar, harmonica, and accordion (Nancy has an accordion and Smiles can play it very well - it's impressive! He said he just 'picked it up'. I need to start 'picking up' more random skills like that.)
Hobbit, Banjo, and Safety First
I need to meet Apple! At first I was a little bummed that my name wasn't unique, but then again I am Apples and she is Apple so I guess it's ok.
Along the trail:
