Start: 653.3
Stop: 658.3
Today’s miles: 5
Total PCT miles: 846
I popped straight up in bed at 2:28am. My shoes! I didn’t get my shoes at REI! SHIT! In all my stress over the watch business, (including my slight meltdown) I totally blanked and forgot to get the shoes I bought and had shipped to REI. Crap. I fell back to sleep, and well, too.. but I kept that thought in the forefront of my brain.. I can’t leave town without them!
We all were awake before 8am. Y’all have to know I hated that, but nothing could be done to prevent it. The people in the motel were walking hard, moving stuff, opening and closing doors. I let Margot think she was the one to wake me by going to the bathroom, but then admitted I was awake before that, just fighting it, hard.
We laid around until after 9am, I did anyway. Marquis ate cereal he bought from Safeway, and I ordered Margot and I Chick-fil-A from DoorDash. She ran out to Starbucks for her coffee while we waited for the food. We ate in bed and watched Friends until we had to start packing. I dropped the shoes and REI bomb on them early on, so they were ok with going by there first thing this morning.
We took a bus to REI, I ran in and got my shoes and then we ubered to a place called “Park n Float” to float the Deschutes River. For $24 each, they secured our packs in a locked room, gave us each a tube, and drove us to a launching spot, picked us up afterwards and dropped us off at the place with our packs. Pretty sweet deal. And it was SO MUCH FUN. We floated, ate popcorn and cherries, laughed, and watched Margot panic over ducks and geese. To be fair, I’m scared of the geese too.. they can be mean as hell!
We had such a great time! Before we knew it, we had our packs back on and we were walking to the main road to try to hitch back to the trail. Margot had her sign out, “PCT hikers to Trail” but we weren’t having much luck. We moved locations some, with a pitstop at a gas station for Gatorade (and I got a sandwich), because it was HOT out there. We tried out our new spot, and after 20 or so minutes two ladies stopped at the same time.
Originally neither was going to take us to the pass, but just to a better spot to try to hitch from, saying we were on the wrong end of this street. Then, the one lady decided last second she’d just take us the whole way. She chatted us up the whole hour out to the pass, asking us questions and filling the silence in a way that was enjoyable and not overwhelming. She dropped us off at the trailhead and we had to get our shoes on and get the show on the road.
I don’t like new shoe days. Those first few miles are painful, breaking in the stiff shoes hurts my feet. Eventually the pain eased off-or I learned to deal with it, and I can only hope tomorrow is better. We only went 5 of the easiest miles in the world to Big Lake Youth Camp. It was flat and hot. I got there after Marquis and Margot, but in time for dinner. The youth camp lets PCT hikers eat meals with the camp staff for free, or donation (we all gave a nice donation).
We were served pizza, salad, watermelon, and the nicest ice cold water. We could have seconds and thirds, and we all did. The picnic tables were slap full of hikers and camp workers.. and the camp staff were young 16-25 year olds, more on the 16 side for sure. They were kind and prayed over the food before we ate, some talked to us and asked about our hike.. and then, after most had ate their share of food, but every hiker was still piling it in our mouths, it was like all hell broke loose. Loud squealing girls talking drama and all the latest gossip. It got a little too overwhelming at one point that I decided I didn’t need anymore food and left to go scout out a campsite.
I found us a spot and met Margot and Marquis back where we left our packs in a “hiker area.” The camp is real good about keeping the hikers away from the actual kids at the camp, a safety thing I’m sure, and we all have to sign in with all of our personal info, like addresses and phone numbers, for safety purposes, too. I liked that. It was very well organized and very well ran.
We walked to the camping area and set up in one of the only spots not on a sandy/muddy beach or in the middle of a ton of fallen dead trees. It’s not bad at all. We walked to the water’s edge to watch the sunset. It’s been a gorgeous evening. We’re all a tiny bit burnt from the tubing extravaganza, but I think it was definitely worth it. Laying here now, I can hear lots of yelling and hooting and hollering.. I’m not sure what’s happening back at the camp, but it sounds like they’re having a blast. And that’s fine by me, I’m pretty sure my earplugs will be tuning them out here in just a second! Haha.
We have a long stretch without water tomorrow, and it’s going to be hot and we’ll be crossing lava rocks.. so it’s going to be exposed more than likely, too. Knowing it’s going to be a rough one means I should probably try to get some sleep. Which is exactly my plan now. Sweet dreams, y’all.