PCT Day 21-Zero

We all slept in until maybe 8 ish? At best? Full bladders were the culprit for not being able to sleep just a weeeee bit longer, since we were inside and all. Oh well.

We got dressed and made our way to the bathroom, then over to eat breakfast. I wanted biscuits and gravy-they were out-so I settled for a burrito. Once I had some sour cream to go on it-I enjoyed it. The three of us sat and talked like old friends and took our time, me sipping coffee, Tashina and Romy sipping tea. It was a great morning, for sure.

We packed all of our gear, my resupply food getting shoved in awkwardly, making my pack seem super large. When we toted everything back to the main restaurant, store, lodge, area to turn in the key-Big Mama was already there to get us! How perfect! She had some gear swapping to do for another hiker, but afterwards we loaded up and she drove us into Medford.

I wasn’t expecting everyone to come in REI with me, but they all did. We shopped, I found pants to hike in, the girls found stuff they needed, Tashina gifted Big Mama something she had wanted.. it was a good time! Back in the parking lot, I shoved my new purchase into my pack and put it on, ready to hangout in this parking lot until Thomas and Steffi appeared to pick me up. Big Mama was uneasy about leaving me, but I promised her I was fine. We did hugs all around, said our goodbyes and see ya laters, and then they drove off.

I walked around looking at my options for entertainment for the next few hours, and landed on chic-fil-a. I ordered my lunch and sat at a table with my pack in the chair across from me. I worked on my blog, I ate, and I wasted a good bit of time. It was hot outside, and the REI was in direct sunlight, so I didn’t want to just sit out there and roast. Eventually I started to feel guilty and Thomas said they were about an hour away, they hit some traffic, so I decided to walk back over to REI to wait.

I found a shaded spot at the back of a different building but facing REI, and I continued to work on my blog and self entertain until they got there. It was kind of odd how fast I just jumped into a stranger’s car without question. They messaged and said 10 minutes, along with a picture of the car. They pulled up, I said “Hi!” We swapped pleasantries and I was in the backseat ready to go.

They are wonderful. Both from Germany, and they hiked the whole desert and decided to take a 3 week road-trip while waiting out the snow to melt. We talked off and on during the 7 hours to Seattle. We all 3 ooo’d and ahhhh’d when we passed through Portland, it looked beautiful at sunset. And when we finally made it to the motels side by side near the airport, we were all exhausted and talked out. It was almost 1 am.

I went inside and the lady took a while to get me into my room, saying they oversold the room I booked but instead of turning me away, they’d upgrade me without penalty. It’s a good damn thing because I was close to coming unhinged. The motel was a dump, an almost $300/night dump at that-I was tired and had to be up early. Yikes.

I got into my room and while the bed was clean and comfortable, I didn’t feel like I could walk around without shoes-the carpets felt damp and nasty. It was loud outside in the parking lot near my room. I was so exhausted I passed out pretty quick after laying down regardless. Almost immediately.