It's not over yet...

This fantastic interlude in the desserts of California, well the towns on the outskirts, will end today. I was to take a couple of hikers back to the trail at 5:00 AM this morning but with the nice, relatively cool weather, they decided to start at 8:00 AM instead. I was glad because this meant that I didn't have to set my alarm clock. While I still woke up at 5:30 AM, it was a complete rest cycle. I'm going to leave the Gatorade I bought at the trail head, this morning in the cooler and when I take Andrea and Neil back to the trail head, I'll pick up the cooler and leave the Gatorade.

Once they cleaned up, they looked real good, healthy. After 20% of the trail, they've only lost five to ten pounds. While they eat really well on their town breaks and zero days, at this stop I've been able to keep pace. Unfortunately I'm not going back on the trail. While I do like the thought of doing something this dramatic, I don't like the level of cleanliness possible. Of the four people I hauled from the Tehachapi Willow Springs road crossing into town, they all had the same unwashed body odor. It was undoubtedly made worse by the dessert heat because it was still less pungent than some San Francisco street people who may not have washed in a year or more. I really feel sorry for the street people, particularly since many of them also have mental conditions that keep them from taking advantage of services that would allow them to wash.

To a person, the people I've given lifts to and the ones I've met at the hotel many of them seem to be staying at, they are enjoying the hike, even the parts they don't. Nothing like common misery to form bonds that last a life time. Last night I met a person who is on his second through hike. Some few people have done it five times. Then there are the yo-yo's who do it both directions in the same year. They have to travel light and fast.

Here are some more pictures of them starting out their last desert section: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011679&id=1288023430&l=cf846bc5b8.

Similar to their start of their PCT hike, here is a video of them walking. At least a portion of this is a better front on shot...



I have a lot more to post and, unfortunately, a lot more to do. The doing keeps me from posting, which reminds me of a recent "Luann" strip, which was just recycled this morning.

The last time I was in Bakersfield

The last time I was in Bakersfield was a little later in June four years ago. Marilyn and I had just watched Sean graduate and were on our way to Sequoia/Kings Canyon. She was having symptoms of her cancer but it wasn't yet diagnosed so she wanted to have some wheatgrass juice. (Ever since her first cancer she made a particular effort to eat healthy and found that wheatgrass juice gave her energy and micronutrients.) I used my Blackberry to find a Jamba Juice and Google Maps to actually get us there.

This trip was just a buzz by but it did remind me of the last time.

I finally met up with my daughter and her husband. I was at the wrong PCT road crossing. So, my walking in about three miles to see them on the trail not only went for naught, but it made me an hour late picking them up at the right road crossing. I was even later because I couldn't see the trail markers from the road in the dark. It all worked out in the end. We got some food from Albertson's, ate it at the hotel after they cleaned up, and they went right to bed, which I'm going to do shortly.

Here are some still pictures I took on my six-mile round trip hike: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2011329&id=1288023430&l=116778be77

I was really impressed with the number of wind turbines as well as the number actually turning.

PCT Start Video

This is the video of Andrea and Neil starting out on the PCT. Below is today's Spot location:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.1098,-116.4755&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Another Wet and Windy Day

The rain over the last three days are somewhat significant as they are outside the normal rainy season. Unfortunately the amount hasn't been significant. I have used it as a good excuse for not doing any yard work as well as a less good excuse for not doing much else. In fact, yesterday after opening the cat door, which because of the weather they refused to use, I went back to bed and slept until noon.

There were other reasons than the rain for doing so. Primary among these were that it was the second day of me being off of caffeine and my body had adjusted to the stimulant again. Two days before I had gotten up by alarm clock and driven my youngest daughter and her husband to the Mexican Border Trailhead of the PCT. After seeing them start their 2,650-mile hike before 8:00 AM, I proceeded to drive all the way back to Pacifica. It took around ten hours including the couple of stops for food and espresso, which was also a good secondary reason.


I'm planning on personally delivering one of their resupply boxes. If I don't and they can't get a ride by hitchhiking, it will add 11 miles to their 2,650 trail miles. Yes, off trail hikes to resupply towns aren't counted. Two weeks earlier they will be met by my oldest daughter and her husband. They plan a zero-day of rest and eating. In fact, I believe I heard them say that they hope she knows of an all you can eat Sushi bar.

The trail is demanding and challenging in several ways, but the most significant way is food. They can't carry enough of it. In point of fact, on the days they are walking they anticipate being short by at least 2,000 calories a day.

They are carrying The Spot, a device that among other functions, sends a url of their position to a limited number of recipients. They've arranged for my son-in-law's parents to forward it on to the larger number of people who desired notification. Since I am lucky enough to be on The Spot's limited list, I'm including the positions I've received so far below:

The start: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.5898,-116.4669&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

First camp: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.6852,-116.5172&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Second camp: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.8358,-116.421&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Third camp: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=32.9797,-116.5236&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

My son-in-law's parents are also going to maintain their trail journal in between their limited opportunities to do so. It can be referenced at: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=9044

I'm looking forward to tracking them up the PCT. While I don't see this adventure in my future, it is inspiring me to have one of my own. I like the thought of riding on mine.