3 Highlights:
1. Hitchhiking into town with Peter and Diane from Boston, and later with Chris Cooper and his sweet Jeep Wrangler.
2. Finding my size of Altra shoes and a bright orange Buff to avoid getting shot during hunting season.
3. Connecting with fellow hikers in town—Shovel, Ready Fin, Fabio, James, and Sparkle.
Daily Summary:
• Distance hiked: 28 km
• Starting point: Km 3246
• Ending point: Km 3264
• Weather conditions: Sunny
Daily Reflections:
As expected, it was a terrible night—barely any sleep, thanks to my rebellious air mattress. It’s as if it was determined to slide me off at every opportunity. I spent the night performing a balancing act between keeping my legs or upper body on it, switching between the two like some odd circus routine. Eventually, I found a weird position on the mattress edge and managed to drift off briefly. But, naturally, I woke up at 7 in full panic about reaching the bus parking lot some 19 km away.
I hiked as fast as I could, passing some lucky hikers who had chosen a camp spot just 2.5 km away. When I reached the parking lot, salvation came in the form of Peter and Diane from Boston. They were heading to San Francisco, with a bit of national park sightseeing along the way. We had a nice chat before they dropped me off at a general store.
I found myself in a fly fishing shop next, which—surprisingly—had Altra shoes in my size! I grabbed a pair of Olympus 6s, and they fit perfectly. They even gave me a discount! To top it off, I finally got my hands on a bright orange Buff—essential gear during hunting season.
Lunch at Chili’s was decent enough, and I bumped into fellow hikers Finn and Fabio. Afterward, I headed to the supermarket for a resupply. While chatting with Wild Flower, I managed to spend $80 on what felt like not much at all.
The day’s real gem was at the soda café, where the cappuccino might have been mediocre, but the human connection was spot on. I charged my gear, repacked, and enjoyed some ice cream. It was there that I met Chris Cooper, a champion, who offered to drive me back to the trailhead in his Jeep Wrangler. I contemplated meditating in the park for a minute but, of course, went for the hitch instead.
Chris’s red Jeep Wrangler was everything Wild Flower dreams of. We had a great conversation about his wonderful family of six children and his 40-year marriage. When we arrived at the trailhead, I saw James and Sparkle, who had been trying to hitch for a while. I was relieved for them, knowing Chris would take them back to town.
I managed 9 km as the sun set, eventually finding a semi-flat spot behind some bushes. Not ideal, but definitely better than the previous night. Fingers crossed for better sleep tonight. Wish me luck!
