Day 34: Nero in Tehachapi

Miles traveled: 3.4

Mile marker: 566.5

Savannah slipped into me while we slept. I slipped into Rafiki while we were sleeping.

Earrings are a bad idea.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have much choice.

It’s light outside before the alarm goes off, which is set for 5:30. I toss and turn, but sleep does not invade me.

Now we are awake and find little dead spiders on our sleeping mats. Hey. I wonder how they died.

I packed quickly and put my breakfast essentials in my water bottle. It’s vanilla and I don’t have any coffee or hot chocolate so we’ll see how it tastes.

It tastes like canned milk.

The four of us started walking.

Apart from some climbs, we are going downhill. We cross a bridge as we travel down the same sandy path and overgrown slopes we’ve been on for the past few days. I turn on the music (not sure if I should listen to it that much) and enjoy it until I find the group on the road.

Oh man! I forgot to start my watch! I start him on the road and we walk a mile and a half along the side of a road right next to the highway.

It’s already hot outside. I’m glad I decided not to wear my fleece when we started this morning. I thought it might be cool since we were going downhill.

It’s 7:30 when we walk toward a glass-covered gravel parking lot.

“He’s in a blue Dodge Ram 4×4,” he announced to the group. We sit on our mats and just five minutes later a blue truck appears.

«It’s probably him,» I say. I turn to Rafiki. «Is that a 4×4 dodge something?» asked.

He nods. «See that sticker on the window? It’s got a Cummins.»

I have no idea what he’s talking about.

It’s good to have people who know trucks.

“Katy?” says our driver.

«Yes! Hi Rick!»

We jump in and Rick, a retired gentleman, presents us with donuts! A whole dozen varieties of yeast donuts! Wow, I’m so glad I changed drivers yesterday.

I had another lady lined up to take us, but we were supposed to have six people with us at that time.

So Socks hitchhiked early.

There were five left, so it was good that the lady gave us a ride (we had too many people for our car and she would have to make two trips to get us into town). I contacted Rick, who had more room in his truck. We ended up trading Rick for this reason. Trying to communicate with people when I have spotty service is a little stressful for me.

Then, Bumper was hooked.

So I didn’t need to change trips at all.

But now we have donuts and life is better!

Rick, a retiree from California, gives us a little tour as we travel. They drop us off at a breakfast place near Walmart.

I get eggs benedict and home fries.

«Do you want to try it?» I ask dad.

«It looks a little velvety,» he says.

You are not wrong.

We spent some time in the corner booth at Henry’s Café. Our suitcases are stowed next to us and my legs are glued to the seats when it’s time to leave.

A four-lane highway separates us from the Big 5, which might help me. Dad suggested I buy new socks. My endless blisters may be a result of my socks. I want to try the old dad sock method: a pair of toe protectors under a pair of regular socks.

The big 5 have nothing. I walk through the tightly packed groups of baseball pants and trucker hats. Great outfits! I want that! A month of trail clothing makes me really appreciate clothing.

We walked down the road, running across the flat, hard pavement with difficulty. Rafiki is left behind because he was late to the road, but the car coming from the opposite direction is waiting patiently for him.

The sun shines brightly as we walk to Walmart. A woman stops us in her van.

“Are you going up the PCT?” she asks.

«Yeah!» say. The rest of my group has moved on.

«My name is Fran and I’m on the Tehachapi Trail angel list. I’ll be here until 11:30 if you want a ride.»

I signal to dad. «Fran, here, you can take us later.»

«Oh, great!» Dad says.

We turned the corner and walked through the row of shopping carts. This Walmart is unlike any other I have been to.

I walk down the aisles, throw things into my cart, and scan my list. I arrived in the city with too much food: 10 bars, 4 packages of tuna, Cheezits that I’ve been saving for two weeks, two bagels… how did this happen?

Walmart is full of delights. Propel electrolyte packets, Chomp bars, Snickers bars…pretty much everything I need!

I call Fran and am glad to know that she is still waiting for us. I find Dad outside emptying the individually packaged groceries into his bag and throwing the boxes into the trash. With so many people, we can end up with a pile of cardboard in a hotel room.

As I throw out my cardboard, I call everyone and let them know that our trip has a deadline of 11:30.

Dad and I wait in the car with Fran while the others rush inside. Unfortunately, Bumper didn’t make the cut. We brought his bag of food, but there is no room in the car.

As we drive away, Fran tells us where everything is and what restaurant tastes good. I know I can trust her when she says, «Don’t eat here, it’s overpriced and tastes like shit.»

We pass Bumper on the street as he walks the mile back to the hotel. He looks at us dramatically as we greet him. «Sorry, bumper!»

Fran blows him kisses. Poor bumper.

We also passed Lucie on the street and greeted her enthusiastically.

“Lucia!” we scream. «Hello Lucie!»

It’s great to see it!

Fran gives us a tour of the area and then drops us off at our hotel. We meet a group of people we haven’t seen in a long time, including Shepherd and Richy. We chat for a while, then I go in and sit on the couch. I text dad to come in, but I don’t have much service. I’m sitting on an ugly overstuffed 2000s couch in the corner of the lobby.

A few moments later, I go out and tell Dad and Rafiki to come inside.

“Can we wait inside?” Dad asks.

I shrug my shoulders. «I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to invite everyone in early though because some people are really loud and I didn’t want to get kicked out for being loud.»

We sat inside. It’s really hard to concentrate when a guest starts arguing with the young receptionist with shaggy black hair.

«She booked the hotel for hikers! She asked about the hiker discount!» The guest has someone on the phone who had obviously made the reservation.

“He didn’t,” says the young front desk agent. “I spoke to her on the phone.”

“This place is meant for hikers!” The guest argues. “You’re going to lose another night of business if you don’t give us the discount!”

«I’m okay with that,» the agent says.

A few minutes come and go. The guest finally walks away, insulting the receptionist.

“I’m sorry,” the agent says to the next invited hiker.

«Don’t apologize for me!» says the guest.

A few moments later, another employee steps behind the desk. He asks the guest to spell his name and proceeds to ask him five more times because he’s not paying attention.

The hiker is very patient with her.

There are no bathrooms available for us, so we go to a cafe to have a coffee. I spend an obscene amount of money on coffee, and I make sure to say, «I’m from North Carolina and I like very, very sweet coffee!»

A brown sugar latte. Mmmm.

Then we return to the motel and soon we will be able to enter our room. I turn to grab my things: my backpack, the paper shopping bag that’s tearing down one side, and the group of donuts I’ve been carrying all day.

I turn around and Dad and Rafiki are gone! They abandoned me!

I follow Lucie to her room. Anyway, Savannah and I were planning to share a bed.

I immediately get into the shower. Muddy water pools at my feet as I rub my legs vigorously.

Meanwhile, dad calls me, texts me, and communicates with me in the group chat.

Oops. I missed that one.

He thought I saw where he was going. Rafiki texted me the room number but I didn’t get much service and couldn’t see it anyway because my hands are full.

I eat some fruit and rest for a while. I was going to stretch my legs, but there are three of us lying on the bed and there is no room to stretch. I enter dad’s room a few doors away. He’s not there, so I crawl under the covers of his bed to blog. It’s so cold here!

Soon we are going to dinner at Petra’s, a Mediterranean restaurant. There is live music from The Gallow Twins. It’s folky and appropriate for camp.

Back at the hotel, we get into the jacuzzi. It’s not hot, but it will do!

I feel elated when the jet shoots water onto my back. We all laugh as we float and sink our shoulders under the water. There are two preteens in the hot tub with us who keep looking at us and laughing while whispering to each other. It gets darker outside and the water finally warms up. It’s hot!

I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

Soon we are in bed. I have so much to do tomorrow! At least I have the hot tub to look forward to.