Today was a perfect trail day. Slept in. Got up at 8am. The other hikers prepared breakfast. Lots of fresh fruit, bacon and French toast. We talked after breakfast about waiting to hike tonight across the hot, waterless, shadeless 30 mile Hot Creek rim. After the first round of folks checking their email, we changed our plan to hike out tomorrow morning after breakfast. We lounged, read the newspaper and magazines, got in the hot tub, wrote journal entries, chatted with Georgi and Dennis, talked trail talk, ate leftover chili, grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, took naps, and did more of the same all afternoon.
Georgi and I spent a lot of time talking about scouting as she was involved in both the boy scouts and girl scouts and had worked her way through the Woodbadge program back in the late 1970’s. We also talked about AFS as we both have hosted foreign exchange students through that program.
The gang’s decision to wait and hike tomorrow morning felt fine with me. Our friend Swagman should reach Burney Falls State Park coming southbound about the same time we get there northbound. I haven’t seen Swag since 2001 and probably won’t get the chance again as he is from Australia, lives in England, and proposed to his girlfriend while on the trail last month at Crater Lake. So we will look forward to a reunion with our AT classmate in a couple of days.
We made a late afternoon drive to the post office and store before their closing time. We have two new southbounders with us tonight, Shade (who I met way back in Idyllwild) and Letterman. Little Bump and Stick Girl took a zero day here as well and we’ve had a very relaxing day, feeling right at home here. This zero mile day is in stark contrast with the zero mile day spent in Chester running around town taking care of logistical issues.
I have spent the last hour and a half journaling while preparing baking potatoes over hot coals at the backyard firepit. The gals have been in the kitchen getting salad ready. Tabasco (now renamed as Wifeless) has been cooking burgers on the grill. Little Bump and StickGirl drove the family car to the store for vanilla ice cream and Stick Girl made a double batch of brownies. More later.
Well, dinner on the deck for 10 thruhikers and the Heitman’s was delicious. I am journaling in the sewing/computer/scout memorabilia room, waiting for another turn on the computer while Wifeless is uploading photos for his website. Phantom and Bad Moon are losing again. They haven’t won in over a month playing Euchre against Happy and Whoop Ass. Others are outside on the backyard deck. I believe a few of us are going to get in the hot tub. Soon I will set up my ground cloth, air mattress, and sleeping bag in the back yard for another night of car camping. Tomorrow morning we’ll eat breakfast and resume hiking. It has truly been a joy staying here with the Heitmans!
