Start: 2619.1
Stop: 2639.9
Today’s miles: 20.8
Total PCT miles: 2354.6
Yep. That “future me” problem of the tent falling happened around 3:30 in the morning. I didn’t expect it to continue to get worse, but of course.. it did. I tried to fall back to sleep after fixing all my tent stakes, but I was real restless. We were still packed and on trail by 6:30.
We were greeted with another beautiful sunrise-the colors of cotton candy. The wind was still very intense, too. It felt like we were going to get blown off the trail. Even still, we walked and laughed and dealt with it. We’re getting so close to the border now that not much can rain on my parade.
The trail was overgrown but gorgeous. There were storm clouds off in the distance, but it never rained. The rocks were sticking out of the mountainsides in sharp, odd angles making for really cool formations. I made Marquis pose with a lamppost bush, both of us cackling now about how pissed off we were the other night when we hiked the wrong way in the dark, and he smacked into one of these.
We stopped at a campground for water and to eat a snack. The water tasted absolutely awful.. but with no other options, I poured more mio flavor enhancer into my bottle than is probably advisable. Marquis poured mio on his bread-so-Lord, please be with us, we are not ok. Lol.. but the break was nice and the campground was pretty. The trail cuts right through it. I wish it would cut through a dang Taco Bell.
We made it to Lake Morena campground by 1pm-somewhat cranky because of how hot it was. By 1:15, we got to the little restaurant down the road and ordered lunch. I got a Philly cheesesteak and fries and poppers-I should have gotten a burger, but believe it or not, I’m a little burger-ed out. Oh well. Choices were made, and I ate it all anyway.
While sitting there, Marquis saw a comment on our app about someone losing an item at the campground we just walked through, so after we ate, we went back to search for it. It’s a wooden spoon with sentimental value. Marquis found it and is going to mail it back to them when we get to Campo tomorrow. We filtered more water, that didn’t taste bad, and continued hiking another 5 miles to the next campsite.
It was mostly uphill, and though there were views of Lake Morena, neither one of us were that impressed. What did shake us up a bit was running into a tarantula. Marquis spotted the big thing and stopped-we watched it awhile and every time Marquis went to pass it, it came closer to him! It’s like it knew we were scared of it and it was messing with us! When it was my turn to go by, I literally ran, high knees and tip toes, and screamed the whole time.. Marquis got a good laugh out of that. I really don’t like snakes or spiders.. I can handle spiders a little bit better though.. not that anyone could tell with my reactions.
Our campsite is the only flat area not currently overgrown with poison oak. The stream nearby is also covered in it.. we had to ease through everything, watching every step, and then hunt for somewhere safe to set up camp. I went to put my tent right under a huge dead limb-so we moved my stuff and whacked at the limb with our trekking poles like a piñata. It was instant anger management. Once everything that could fall off, did-we finished setting up our stuff and had dinner.
It’s a little chilly but it isn’t windy-so I think we’ll sleep good night! We get into Campo tomorrow!! We could technically “finish” tomorrow, but I talked Marquis into not touching the border until Friday morning, Friday the 13! Ha! Ok.. that’s all I have 🙂 Sweet dreams, y’all.
