Date: 2019-05-26
From: Stealth camping - 536.4

To: Quarter Way Inn
Miles today: 19.3

I am starting in the middle of my day. I had eaten lunch and gone across the street to get an ice cream. I re-entered the trail about a quarter mile down the highway. I entered into a beautiful meadow with tall grass. I was kind of expecting Laura Ingles to come running over the hill, from Little House on the Prairie.  Two hikers passed me: Kentucky and Jeff. I commented to them; people ask why we do this, ¢this is why we¢re out here.¢ As you leave the meadow you have to climb stairs over a barbed wire fence. I noticed they had stopped to look at something and I was wondering what? I climbed the fence and saw a makeshift memorial for Robert Sanchez Jr. ¢Strong Hold¢ the hiker who was killed. I paused and almost started crying. I continued on and could not help but think. Was he having those same thoughts about the trail and the meadow. Was the trail clearing his mind and focusing him, helping with his PTSD? He had no idea what lay ahead for him. A victim of someone else¢s struggles.???I  started out early today because I love hiking in the morning. There was a very light fog in area and the sun was casting rays through it making the morning more spectacular.  I had heard there was an old school house along the trail that had trail magic.  Sure enough, I came across this cute little one room school house. Inside they had three boxes. One with toiletries items, and the other two with snacks and a little fruit. There was also two coolers with ice and sodas. I had my mind set on Sunday buffet at the Barn restaurant 2.5 miles up the trail. I stocked up on a few things and had a soda. I always feel guilty taking free stuff but they supply it out of kindness and compassion. So I took what I needed and could use. In walked Longfeather, we caught up for a few minutes. I made it to the Barn, no buffet or breakfast. I had a burger and a salad. I had another 10 miles to go on top of the 9 I had done before lunch. My heel blisters still hurt and it¢s affecting my gait, which causes other aches. I got to the Quarter Way Inn about 6:00. What a cute place, old converted farm house. They ask for ID, 1st hostel to do so. I like that, it keeps the riff raff away. I got a shower and shave. I soaked my feet in Epsom Salt water. The place is Clean. I colored while watching movies. Everyone staying here is nice. Story time, There was no forecast of rain last night and it was supposed to be cool but not cold. I had left the rain fly off of the tent to have cool air and look at the stars. I was sleeping or about to sleep  when the wind picked up and I felt a few drops of rain. Neither weather app warned of showers as they are supposed to. It started raining harder but not hard. Picture this: 49.75 year old, lily white guy, wearing fluorescent orange underwear and black Crocs with a headlamp on (and nothing else) running around his tent in the dark, wind, and rain storm trying to put a rain fly on his tent. When completed I jumped back in the tent and had 15-20 various bugs flying around in my tent. I was trying to shoo them out but more would come in because of the light. I had to kill them. I was trying to see them with the headlamp on and they kept buzzing around my face and the light. One of them bit/stung me on the arm. I killed all of the bugs in my tent. Then the ones trapped in between the rain fly and tent were going ballistic trying to get in. Wildlife update: Snake and a field mouse.