Walk

Pct 101.5. Rest

“Can’t you see the love people are (trying to) pour all over you?” – Big Eden

I slept pretty well last night as I walked 23 miles the day before.  I had anticipated the Warner springs resource center to open at 8.  This would have worked out perfectly.  I could have showered and taken care of house keeping before Brian Austin and the rest of my cotton crew arrived.  This turned out not to be the case however.  I misread the information I had.  The center is open Mwf 1 to 4.  It’s only open 8-4 m-f starting April 1st and extending through the end of May.

I was pretty upset. I was hungry, stinky, and wanted to do laundry before my friends arrived.   So I waited in the adjacent park.  And waited.   They weren’t due to arrive until around 11.  Around 930 a thru hiker named Ironman I had passed the day before came walking up.

We struck up a conversation and the time passed more quickly.  He’s from Colorado and the LA area.  It seems be bounces between the two.   He too wanted a hot meal and to use the Internet the resource center provided.

Around 1045, the group arrived.  Out of two cars rolled 5 people and Simon, my dog!  They all looked amazing!  And CLEAN!   As I walked up, I made the comment they had to stop meeting me on the trail in packs else my trail name will be “entourage”.  Not that I would mind.  It’s great having their support.

We exchanged hugs.  I introduced them to ironman and we all loaded up to head to Julian to eat.  Unfortunately Warner Springs has had a rough go of it and no longer have a restaurant or store to speak of.

When we arrived in Julian, Brian found the first Mexican restaurant we could find.  I wanted so good hearty, stick to your ribs kinda food.

After ordering Keith pulls out his laptop and says, I have something to show you.  He put the laptop in front of me and said, “push play”.  I complied.

What followed was nothing short of spectacular.  Since December my friends and Brian and Austin had been putting together a short “newscast” of 8 hikers that all attempt the PCT.  All of them meet their demise in one comical way or another except me.

The film was 7 minutes and 40 seconds of fabulousness.  Keith is working on getting it up on the web so I can show everyone.

To all those involved in making the film, thank you. You guys really outdid yourselves.    I can’t begin to imagine the countless hours and painstaking editing that went into making it.

Soon after the film ended our food arrived.  It was delicious.  We all caught up and told stories.

When lunch was over we headed back to Warner springs so I could grab a shower and do laundry.  O M G. It felt so good to be clean!

I also set about the task of resupplying my food from a box I had ore packed at home.  I packed way to much food.  I have no idea what I was thinking lol.  But one good note.  I will be very popular on the trail as I give away A LOT of food.

With my laundry completed and Resupply accomplished it was time to eat again.  We headed back to Julian. Brian just happened to glance over about a mile outside Julian and see a restaurant called Jimmy’s on the hill. The food was nothing short of amazing.  We will definitely be patronizing this place again after I’m finished with my hike.

After dinner it was about 6:00 and time to say goodbye.  I wanted to get back to Warner Springs and find a place to camp before it was too dark.   I said goodbye to keith Tate and Scott and they headed out.

Austin and Brian drove me back to Warner Springs where we said goodbye.

Yesterday was the perfect zero day. I was able to let my body rest and recover a little while enjoying great company from home.