Was there at 7am to pick up my sandwiches. The seller was an hour late. Not the end of the world, but not what I’d planned.
The sandwiches themselves were fine, if smaller than expected — I’d somehow built them up into something enormous in my head over the past day. No idea why. Ended up eating both for breakfast instead of saving one for lunch. Talked to people, finished my shopping, and got moving around midday.
The sun was out. Somewhere above me, an eagle. A good start to the afternoon.
Not long after leaving I ran into a strange one. He came toward me on the trail. I said hi as he passed. Nothing — just a stare. When I looked back he’d turned around and was right behind me. I stopped and asked if everything was alright.
“I know what you are. I know what you’re trying to do.”
“Okay — hiking?”
He stared a while longer. Then turned and walked back the other way. Sometimes the trail delivers something unexpected — and not in a good way.
Later I reached a creek. The trail crossed it five times. I stopped, filtered water, drank, and kept going after about ten minutes.
Around 3:30pm I checked the map and noticed the next water source was 8 miles away. I had very little left. No choice — had to make it. No water meant no proper dinner and no decent breakfast. Picked up the pace and arrived just as the drizzle started. A cloud had settled over the hilltops. It reminded me strongly of home.
18 miles for the day. The place was called Mike’s Place — named after Mike, the owner who lives there. A well-known stop on the PCT. Water available, camping on the land allowed. Various things lying around the property — the place looks like it’s been accumulating for decades. Set up the tent. Halfway through, the wind shifted and I lost the shelter of the building.
We’ll see how the night goes.
