Day 35: Zero at the Saufley's
A very relaxing zero. Went to REI and Albertson's and got some new shoes & a sleeping bag liner.
I lit up Will's Bday cake--everyone sang. Then I began to sew a tank top from some scrap fabric from the "scraps" hiker bin (because I couldn't help myself with a sewing machine right now...
Everyone was so excited that we found "THE FLAG"--they were all stoked. We were heros in everyones book for our time at the Saufley's. Will enjoyed his birthday celebration while I helped Breezeway fix his tent, with all that it was time for bed and hopefully an early get up in the morning.
Day 36: 25 Miles from the Saufley's to the Anderson's
We made it the 25 miles between the trail Angel's houses and that was great. The Anderson's left a cache of water, coke, and beer--so we stayed there to get out of the sun in the late afternoon before we made it down to the road, which the Anderson's lived off of.
The Anderson's were great. Lots of food and spirits to go around. We made it up until "Hiker's Midnight" and then Will and I and a few other hikers crashed in the living room--which was nice to get out of the hot whether and the wind.
Day 37: Anderson's +10 miles
We knew we'd be stuck at the Anderson's for another zero if we didn't hit the trail so we left early. Caught some breakfast at a little coffee place down the road. The heat was wearing on us and we hadn't stayed up so late in a while so the day was full of lots of breaks and mini-naps. We found some great caves along the way and that took us a little off trail for a bit as we found them very interesting.
We came across a perfect camp spot protected from the wind on a pine tree covered ridgetop and we decided to call it quits for the day.
Day 38: On Our Way to Hikertown
We awake to the 3 Amigos sitting near our camp. Vick was sick so they'll be taking it slow today. We'd love to make it to Hikertown but with only a 10 mile day yesterdxay, that dream is fastly fading.
The 3 Amigos give Will a shirt, because he left his at the Anderson's (long story I'm sure he'll share in his own time...). Today is slow with many breaks it's hot and water is on everyone's mind. We pass and get passed by the twins on and off who are waiting for Vick to catch up while on their quest for water and camp spot. Will and I continue to press on, even after dusk, as our miles again, are pathetic only 10ish by dusk. We have dinner right on the trail and press on into the darkness.
A few hours into our night journey we find ourselves gazing upon the narrow gazing eyes of a bobcat. I look at Will- "Quick make some noise"--Will proceeds to growl at the bobcat--then I join in, haha. He takes a few steps away from us and looks back.
We then break out into song to keep the bobcat from stalking us. "You've lost that Loving Feeling" (By the Righteous Bros. Will would like to add).
We switch back down a few more miles and then set up a quick and dirty tent set up--literally right on the trail...
Day 38: Hikertown
We get in around lunch. I head to the mini mart for ice cream and chips and salsa...mmm... Our feet needed the rest so we decided to stay and nap the rest of the day and get an early start in the morning. We watch a little Coyote Ugly on the TV and make hamburger's. Some head out that night, we decide to wait until morning, until the wind dies down...
Day 39: Hikertown to Somewhere near the Mojave
So we leave Hikertown--we're headed for the Aqua Duct. We're heading out and there are really good signs for the first 2 miles and then they disappear. We follow the AquaDuct a few more miles but something doesn't feel right. We ask some of the locals if we missed some other AquaDuct, but they tell us this is the only one in the Valley so we continue on. (We're suppose to be hiking it for 20+ miles so we'd have a ways to go).
At mile 15ish there hasn't been a PCT sign in 10+ miles and we're headed in the wrong direction. We get ahold of Will's Friend and Monica (later that evening) and we need to head North. The Aquaduct "U"s and we need to be on the other end of the U. So we head North. We're both frustrated, wind blown by 50+ mph winds and finding out you've gone 15 miles in the wrong direction is very disappointing.
We head North, reaching the other side of the Valley by tonight would be impossible and we end up cowboy camping in the middle of a desert field, somewhere between where we were and where we want to be.
Day 40: Lost.
#1: We don't know exactly where we are
#2: Beside's "North" we don't know the exact location of the PCT
#3: The water report doesn't work when you're off the PCT so we're rolling with the water we've had leftover since the day before.
We head out. We cross Hwy 138, decide to find the trail--After talking with Mo in the morning--we know the other highways into Tehachapi if we can't find the PCT.
We pass up our 1st chance at Tehachapi at Hwy 138. We press on North. We don't figure anyone is going to give us a lift so we move to the other side of the road. Seconds later Frank & Willy stop and ask if we're doing "The Crest" trail- yea we way. They'll give us a ride to get us a little closer but they had to stop for water on the way. No worries we'll wait, we could use the lift.
While we stop for H20 we chat it up about the PCT, where we're from, yes we're heading to Canada and all of that. We leave the Peach Orchard (where we got the water) and they take us a couple more miles up the road and invite us over for sodas and a meal if we want to stay.
We knew we had to get going--we had a trail to find--they tell us the Aquaduct wraps around the valley and is north of us--ahh that makes sense. We get their address and say our thank you's and head out. We roadwalk, through the chaotic dirt and gravel roads--heading every which way. we decide to head a little more NE, which would save us some Aquaducts miles ahead...so we think.
It's windy. We finally make it to the basin of the Mt. range--no Aquaduct, no trail, no road heading towards Tehachapi.
So we can head back West to find where the aquaduct vanishes or we can head East. And hope to find a road into Tehachapi in the Am. We vote for finding the Northernly road and to end our struggle to meet up with the "Official" PCT route (plus we're running super low on water).
Will's sick, we're both tired, and both of us our disappointed so we call it quits for the day...
Day 41: Tehachapi!
With a mission we drink a liter of water and head out--we're finding the road into Tehachapi today or else... Through a series of back country road walks, baja roads, and bushwacking we make it to the Tehachapi Willow Springs road by 3pm. Tired, sunburned, windblown we make the trek to Tehachapi (12 miles! of road walk). A warden pulls over and offers us a ride--we happily take it. He's hiked sections before so he was eager to hear about our journey. He gave us a tour of town and then dropped us off at the best dinner spot...mmm...milk shake here I come!
3 days with one days worth of water, tired, and hungry, we make it into Tehachapi. We're a day late and feeling the effects of minimal water--but very happy to be in town and sleeping in a real bed. We'll "Zero" tomorrow and hydrate up. We made it!
Day 42: Zero in Tehachapi
Mostly the same as all zeros, food, post office, food, rest, food, gatorade, gatorade, gatorade.
We've now landing at one of the coolest coffee joints I've ever been to. Free internet, great eats and great tea.
Alex, you would love it here! There's an artist in tonight, a photographer. Her latest collection is of windmills and windmill farms--some pictures look like paintings...
We're headed off, maybe dominos later, maybe just more gatorade, either way tomorrow morning we'll be off again. 8 days to Kennedy Meadows and then we begin the snow part of our journey...
Steph
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