Day 16
Miles 9
It was so, so hot. Thunderstorm hot. Go to the beach in your fancy underwear called a bikini and drink margaritas in the shade hot. And we slogged it out in the sun with our dresses and leggings and my trusty Pure Dixie black felt hat.
Sweating our Faces Off.
But it was resupply day and we needed to be there by 12:30 so Joshua could put us all in the truck and horse trailer and get us across the highway safely. So we went down down down the mountain. Past poor sweaty people headed up. On oddly shaped rocks that hurt our feet on a trail that never ended. On exposed earth with so little shade.
And so, so hot.
We had to cross a bridge made of grating, set over a dam, and Bosco wasn’t having it. He balked. I pulled him and Sophie pushed him and eventually we got him across. Oatcake and Jon Snow shooed across fairly easily, but Sharkey got on the wrong side of the railing and thought he had to swim to us. He was just about to jump in the water when Sohie ran back to him, grabbed him, and pulled him back around the right side of the railing. Oatcake and Jon Snow followed her. I tied Bosco to a railing and ran after them. I grabbed Oatcake and got him turned around. Jon Snow was very confused but managed to get off the little bridge over the dam.
And then there was actual air conditioning in the truck. And comfortable seats. And Joshua brought us each a pizza and I ate the whole thing at a go. We got the boys settled in the new spot and fed them minerals and calf manna and pellets and animal crackers. When they were so full they wouldn’t even one more cookie, they lay down to rest in the shade and we got to work on our resupply boxes.
Two full hours later, nearly dying from heat exhaustion, but triumphant in our new goods and fresh outfits, we made our way down the trail to look for Benwood Meadow.
We found the meadow, but not the creek so we kept walking. Then we found the creek but it wasn’t near a meadow or a place to camp. We kept walking…
When we found a spot, it was lovely and open with just the right number of trees and just the right amount of shade. The right tent spot and hammock trees and cooking area. The right places to set up the fencing. Perfect place for a day off.
The storm got a little louder when Poppy showed up and she asked for refuge from the storm. She was a PCT hiker, kind and interesting, with big honest eyes and an open heart.
We loved her instantly and talked far past our bedtime. We put the fence up into the dark hours and threw ourselves on the mercy of sleep.
Categories: Life