The Hiker Hut

Day 49

PCT Mileage 1597.24 – 1597.24

Miles Hiked 0

I took a shower first thing, and threw my laundry in the wash. I stood around just wearing my rain jacket and my rain skirt, my hair wrapped up in a towel.  

No one looked at me funny. That’s the advantage of staying at a place called The Hiker Hut.

A hiker mumbled something.  

“What?” Someone said.

Hiker: “Oh nothing. I was talking to my pants.”

“Oh, okay,” everyone said.

Everyone went back to whatever they were doing.

Yep – advantage of staying at a place called The Hiker Hut.

With my hair dry and brushed, and my dress all clean and anti-stink-fest, I took one of the loaner bicycles and headed to Bob’s Restaurant for breakfast. Hot Potato went with me.

I was so happy to be riding a bicycle, I laughed out loud all the way there. My hair free from its braid, blowing around all happy and shiny.

We had a super nice, greasy spoon breakfast. I had five refills of coffee.

Mmmmmm. Coffeeeeeee.

Then it was time to shop for my food to get me to Seiad Valley, 56 miles out. I wandered around the store, feeling queasy from all the coffee. Stared at all the food.

Put peanut butter in my cart. Walked around the store six times. Realized I still only had peanut butter in my cart. Overwhelmed, I rubbed my face with my hands.

After an hour and a half, I managed to purchase what I thought was three days of food. But maybe it was way too much. But maybe that was okay. It’s when there’s too little food that the problem morphs into a disaster.

I packed up all my stuff, planning to hitch out of town in the late afternoon and get a few miles out before I camped. Everyone was going to the brewery for dinner, so I went too.

And then my sweet friend Turtle bought our table a round of beer. And then we went to the store and bought some more. And then all of a sudden I was staying another night.

And it was fun and relaxing to hang out with a fellow group of hikers.

People out here doing this thing. Some more experienced. Some less so.

And we were all friends.