This morning we were up early since our campsite was near the crest of the San Felipe hills. With early morning temperature bottoming out at 52 degrees, we knew it was going to be a hot day in this arid, hilly environ, so we set off on the morning hike around 7:45am. An hour and a half of steady uphill got the heart and lungs going, but we soon arrived at a water cache about 5 ½ miles down the trail. Without the water cache left by trail angels, this section of trail would be potentially very dangerous since there are 25 mile gaps with no water. We sat for a while enjoying the delicious gold (water), and then pressed on.
The heat was very taxing, and the miles were labored. We stopped for lunch atop a hill with a nice panorama of the surrounding hills and distant mountains. Good To Go tried setting up a tarp to avoid the heat but was unsuccessful. Phantom and I both rolled out our mattresses and covered our faces with our hats, but the heat was especially stifling next to the ground. There are NO TREES and no escape from the sun in this 80 miles we have walked, save the gnarly cottonwood trees at sandy dry creek beds.
After lunch we pressed on to get to our destination, Barrel Springs, for more water and the promise of some trees so we could rest in the shade. Good To Go and I arrived first at the spring, along with The Kid of The Family (Spark. Fancy, and The Kid are The Family from California). There was a Styrofoam cooler at the base of the tree next to the spring. Trail magic? The cooler was full of empty soda and beer cans except for one last beer that The Kid got to first. At least he shared a sip or two with us!
We rested in the heat until late afternoon. We were only 9 miles from Warner Springs. Hmmm, could we, would we, go for it? Our plan was to walk another four miles to San Ysidro Creek and camp there, then to walk into Warner Springs tomorrow morning. That plan changed when Good To Go decided to hike into town. I told him we probably wouldn’t go all the way in since my foot was really bothering me and Phantom’s knee was bothering him. So Good To Go said he would see us in town and would save us space in the room for tomorrow night. Fancy, of The Family, informed me that rain was forecast to come in over night. That was just enough motivation for me! I waited for Phantom to catch up, and he agreed we should push on into town.
The last 10 miles into Warner Springs were totally different as the landscape changed to a gorgeous open plains with fields of grain. I felt like I was in the African plains as the trail stretched across small gains and losses in elevation. No more desert! The last two miles to the road crossing into Warner Springs followed a creek and was lined with Live Oaks and Cottonwoods. I was so happy to be hiking in trees for a change!
Darkness fell in the final mile to the road crossing and our feet were screaming from relief from the long day’s miles. We reached the road around 8:15pm, knew we would never get a hitch into town in the dark, so we walked the 1.5 miles down the highway in the dark into town. We arrived at the Ranch, a resort with golf, tennis, dining, a lodge, one washer and dryer (very important!), a billiards room, and a bar. We went to the Registration office to find out which room Good To Go was staying in. He wasn’t registered. We had them double check. Nope. Not registered! Oh no! Did he miss the trail and go down some other trail? Maybe took a wrong turn at the road crossing? Decided not to go into town after all? We were perplexed . And concerned. So we paid for a room for two nights, left Good To Go a note at the front desk with our room number, then hobbled to our cabin.
Hot showers were the first order of business. Cold sodas were next. I had eaten dinner on the trail, stopping around 6:30pm to cook up a meal. Phantom was on empty, opting not to cook, so Pepsi was his dinner. Around 10:00pm there was a knock on the door. We opened it to find Good To Go, not looking the part! The poor guy did in fact make a wrong turn on the highway and ended up walking several miles in the dark to get to the resort! He looked like hell and could barely walk and was doubled over as he gingerly took steps into the room. It was his first 30+ mile day! And he was last in town, when all he had thought was that he would be the first.
It was a humbling experience for the new long distance hiker. I felt sorry for him, and at the same time could relate to his experience, having done that somewhere in my hiking past. We got the man a soda, and I just went to the front desk t get a rollaway bed, and he took, I swear, a 40 minute shower, alternating between moans and joyful singing while in that shower.
Our clothes were filthy and smelly beyond description. I was determined to do laundry even though it was late, but was denied when the report’s front desk wouldn’t make change and there was no laundry detergent to be found. So back to the room I came, and I took advantage of my TV/radio to listen to the news and some tunes before calling it a night.
It was a long hiking day. My left foot continues to be a serious problem at times, thank goodness for Vitamin I (Ibuprofen)! Phantom has been the snake magnet, seeing two rattlesnakes in the first 100 miles. It’s nice to be in a trail town finally, as compared to the Appalachian Trail experience, this is far more remote and demanding logistically in terms of self reliance for human needs. Tomorrow it’s rest and relaxation, just in time for a day of rain and cold temperatures. Woo hoo! We crossed the 100 mile mark. Today’s mileage: 23.5; total mileage 109.6. Weather: sunny + hot. Low 52, high 92.
