Some of you may think we have been lost in the wilds of California, but we have managed to survive southern Cal's burnt out deserts (complete with rattlesnakes), knock-you-down winds, and never-ending switchbacks up and over one mountain after another for 558 miles.
We have taken a zero day in Tehachapi and tomorrow officially start into central California toward Bakersfield. We expect to arrive at the foot of the southern end of the high Sierras in 10 days or so and then the fun really begins. Personally, I've had enough fun for a lifetime of hikes already!
Tehachapi is another in a long string of hiker friendly towns. Mike treated me to a wonderful Greek dinner last night to celebrate our more than 500 miles. He is amazed we have made it this far since I threaten to quit this frigging hike almost daily.
I have bought a new backpack in an effort to be more comfortable and carry less weight. I was even fortunate enough to sell my old one to a fellow hiker. I am now blister free and seem to be on the mend from a respiratory infection that cost me $350 (we don't take Medicare).
Here are some pix since the last entry and a more positive outlook from Mike.
Tehachapi wind farm
A great hiker cache maintained by trail angels
One of our fellow hikers who took a face plant (and I was feeling sorry for myself!)
The 1905-1912 original LA water pipeline still in operation today.
Walking along the Los Angeles Aqueduct (the only truly flat section so far)
A "mileage marker"
(Mike)
Well now, in an ever-so-slightly more positive vein, I'd like to say that I feel things have been going quite well. What an unforgettable experience traveling along at two miles per hour, under our own steam; wanna go faster(?), can't just simply press down on a gas pedal--it's much more personal (and ergonomic) than that. Exhausted after 10 or 12 hours of travel(?), gotta look for a level place--hopefully free from that damned foxtail grass (the seeds from which can penetrate one's shoe--imagine what they can do to one's air mattress!). Need a bathroom(?), well ya take that tiny little spade (sorta looks like a tablespoon) and the roll of Brownie film out off the trail--and if it's getting dark, don't forget to take along your headlamp.
Dinnertime: well, in order to reduce our pack weight we don't carry much fuel, so we quickly rehydrate and warm up some goop that we had prepared back home, and we hurriedly stuff it into our faces, both of us eating out of one cooking pot while standing up (we do each have our own personal titanium spoons!). Time for bed, really, really, really tired and we'll be getting up at around 4:30 AM, so we need to get to sleep.
Food's a large problem because we've found it totally impossible to carry enough calories sufficient to maintain our body weight. Both of us are normally fairly lean, and we've been getting leaner--Jan has lost about 11 lbs and I'm down by around 14 thus far. We eat all sorts of fattening stuff and we simply work it right off.
We've come 558 miles in about 5 weeks (not counting a few days visiting a doctor and a couple of dentists and waiting for various post offices to open (why do we often seem to arrive in town on weekends(?).
Life on the trail. Gotta love it (I do--and I don't think Jan--no, "Skeeter", minds it too much (well, I hope not).
The Rock Inn in Lake Hughes. We stayed one night here.
A burn area--we have probably hiked through at least 50 miles of burned area.
Typical scenery.
Well, things are gonna change very soon, as we are approaching the Sierra Mts, and they are not only intimidatingly high but deeply snow-covered. New and different challenges...
Mike and Jan
It has been a month since you posted something. Where are you now?
ReplyDeleteMartha (from Amtrak)