Date: 2019-03-30
From: Mile 1626.2

To: Bear Garden hostel
Miles today: 9.5

Well despite the scuffle in the leaves and the fact that I had my little blaster ready.... nothing happened. I'm greatful! I fell asleep by 8:30 and woke just before 11 to pee. The night was fairly warm and it was good for sleeping. I love being in my tent. I woke again at 3 to owls calling. All was silent except their banter back and forth. I loved it. It wasn't the barred owl call I'm used to so I couldn't picture what they look like but I loved listening to them as I drifted back to sleep. At 6:30 am the natural light woke me and by 7:15 I was up and packed. My food bag was undisturbed and thus I enjoyed a cinnamon peach oatmeal while perched on a rock. At about 8:15 I set off for the rest of the descent I was on which at the bottom would convert to a 900' climb. I wanted to get to the top for cell service so I could see if I had a place secured for tonight. I passed a few stray nobo hikers and when I reached the top and turned on my phone I had a voicemail from Bob at Bear Garden hostel confirming my stay. We texted back and forth regarding my desire to hike to route 610 and be picked up there rather than walk to the hostel. This would give me 2.7 more miles of hiking today for just under 10. Today and tomorrow are short 10ish mile days but that's okay. I'm trying not to sleep out wet in 25° temps but still keep moving forward. In addition to that there's the nerve in my right foot again and I don't want another shot in it so I'm trying to compromise. From my perch at the top of the climb I called Cynthia at the Long Neck Lair but her voicemail was full so I emailed her about staying there tomorrow night. At 4:22 on Saturday I still haven't heard back. I really don't want to stay at the Relax Inn but if I don't find another option I'll have to. I hiked the rest of my day, up to Knot Maul shelter and I noted the status of the water sources along the way for the nobo hikers. I stopped at the shelter and met 2 nobo thru hikers who were eating and didn't seem to want conversation. I ran out of water on the climb up so it meant a steep climb down a side trail for a liter. It's warm today and I was very thirsty and hungry. I finally reached route 610 at 2:07, early for my ride but I sat beside the road and snacked relaxing. Bob arrived a few minutes early and I hopped in the truck for a ride back to the hostel. I'm the only one here so far. I picked my bunk, popped a frozen pizza in the toaster oven and then washed it down with a root beer. A little frozen pizza can taste like gourmet cuisine out here. Bob came over with the Kubota 4x and drove me to their rental house down the street for a shower. He visited with the 86 year old woman across the street while I showered. Her sister used to own the house and she seems so sweet. We had a brief conversation across the road when I finished my shower and Bob dropped me back off at the bunkhouse. I'll visit the chapel here shortly. They're from Michigan, Bob and Berta and they retired here to build this hostel with a chapel so they could help hikers and serve God. Again, I'm feeling blessed. But for now I'm on the front deck of the bunkhouse drying my hair ( and my pee rag I washed in the shower) and drinking more electrolytes.