5/5/20, mile: 461, elevation: 3,891 ft.
Despite the bbq, beer, and staying up late updating the blog, I was still up early to finish packing and getting ready to leave the comforts of a campground. With Sarah sending b-day packages ahead to me, I decided to make big miles to make it to Wee Vill Market by Saturday, ’cause Monday sounds too slow for me right now. Hopefully they arrive on time.
The weather is warming, and we’re heading into the real desert sections. The morning part was cool, and the grass covered rolling hills were quite nice to view. No shade available, but it isn’t needed this early. Another tunnel for crossing a freeway, this one with some trail poetry. But once at Vasquez Rocks, the heat starts to get relentless. Hence the grumpy look on my face sans sun hat for the pic. Exiting that park (L.A. County) there’s a sign that says all of the trails and areas are closed. Yet there was no indication of that from the direction we came…Another example of inconsistent rules and enforcement. I had a great talk with an L.A. County fireman who was managing a CDC crew doing vegetation management. He lives in Tehachapi and rides his horse on the PCT quite often in this area.
With time-a-wastin’, I took off along the road heading for Agua Dulce. I had lunch on my mind, specifically fish tacos and guacamole…a beer or two wouldn’t hurt, either (well maybe in this heat). They were very friendly there, allowing me to sit inside and enjoy my beer while my food was being prepped. They also had tables set up out front far enough away from the door to meet the intent of the social distancing rules (and you can even take your beer with you). He upped the ante by filling my water bottles for me, and even allowing me to use the bathroom. He topped it off by allowing me to charge up my phone and then with a complementary beer for dessert (sitting inside). It’s been over 55 days since I sat inside a restaurant (probably the same for many folks).
With a full load of water, I headed out at 2pm in the 90-degree heat. And a road walk. Maybe not the smartest move. But I did the math; gotta get to Wee Vill Market next Saturday for my birthday packages.
The walk wasn’t horrible, just mind numbingly boring with heat thrown on top like a bottle of hot sauce without a metering cap. I put the earbuds in and listened to music, no worries about rattlesnakes out here. Along the way, I had one-sided conversations with the two barking dogs (well, one wouldn’t drop the tennis ball to bark properly but he gave it a good try), a horse and a dead snake. Do all thru hikers get this odd?
At the end of town, the trail follows a dirt road (exposed of course), before finally going into the desert (exposed of course). A couple of miles up a wash I finally try to take a siesta at like 4pm. Too late to really recover from, too early to stop for the day. So onward and upward I went. I setup camp halfway up this mountain side with a view of Agua Dulce and Vasquez Rocks. I also got to see the moon rise before the sunset and all of the changes that go on at dusk in the wild. Cowboy camping during a full moon does present challenges in being able to sleep when it’s so bright. But exhaustion always wins.
Savior out.