2 days in a row of not hiking. What an odd thing. What’s even more, I went to the movies today. Tehachapi has a tiny movie theatre with 4 screens. Merlin, Marble, IPA and me went to see ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’. To have the full american experience, I of course went in with a bag of butter-melted popcorn. The movie was absurd, yet very touching and somehow relevant to our plights on trail.
Jesse invited me to his hotel and I chilled there at the pool with his group. Sitting here in town, with all these luxuries, I think back upon everyone who imagined I would be eating dirty leaves and sleep on rocks for 5 months. Christopher made a nice observation: the trail is one-dimensional, people can either be ahead or behind, but never on the sides, adding to the simplicity of life here.
I’ve grown to really admire some of the older people on trail. Daddy Longlegs, Grit, High Five, No Bear, Commando, Reaper, Thumper, they’re proof you can still do the things you want to do at any age, even strenuous long distance hikes, and be cool while doing it
Surprise of the day: I saw Lily again! She got in earlier than expected and we caught up at the Redhouse BBQ. We ran toward each other and hugged. I was so happy to see her again, although it was very short and it will be several days before we converge again in Kennedy Meadows.
In the evening, we had one more giant thai meal to strengthen ourselves. Tomorrow, we head back out for the last desert section. I’m glad to be going back, two days of not hiking seems to be the limit for me. The Sierra’s await!