Windless Campsite, Spilled Food (starting at Trail Mile 85.3)

As the day drew near for me to meet Marv at Warner Springs for a zero and a night in my own bed, my pace increased.  The GPS showed a nice campground at mile 101.1 with a running spring for water.  I told Claudia that was the goal for the day as she began to pull away from me on the trail, and asked her to save me a spot.

I had a 1/4 mile hike off trail for water.  This stop was a water cache set up by Trail Angels, who use a 4-wheel drive to come up a 2 rut road to bring water to thirsty hikers.  It is amazing to see 3 pallets of Kirkland water in the shade of some bushes.  There was a clear peanut butter jar for donations hanging on the cage for empty bottles.  There was probably $500.00 in it, which amazed me.  I love thinking that there is honor among hikers.

Side trail to a water cache

3 pallets of water gallons from Costco

 The day was very hot, and I had to take a break in a shady area for a couple of hours during the heat of the day.  A chance to catch up my journal, put my feet up a tree (I've had some foot swelling), and take a snooze.  Even when I started hiking again, it was slow going.  The heat really zaps my stamina.  I can hike twice, and sometimes three times as fast in the cool of the morning than I do in the afternoon.  Of course those who know me, know I'm pretty worthless in the afternoon even in normal life.  I'm definitely a morning person.

Pretty cactus blooms

I've never been so filthy in my life.

Small cave to take a cool break or sleep in

I was elated in the late afternoon as I dropped down into a cooler canyon with greenery, trees and a little creek below;  scenery that I much prefer to desert terrain.  As I got back into cell reception, I had a message from Claudia telling me that the campground was really nice.  It was nearing dark when I arrived at camp.  I quickly put up my tent, then went to the spring to filter enough water to cook dinner and to get me through to Warner Springs the next day.

I learned how to use rocks instead of stakes.

My kitchen

In my hurry to get all this done, I was standing next to my tent, spooning pasta with tomato sauce into my body from a cooking pouch while putting things in the tent.  I lost a good hold on the pouch and poured sauce through my tent screen onto the tent floor, my sleeping bag liner and other things.  What a mess!  It was lucky that in the entire hike so far, this was the only place I had limitless water.  I made many trips from the spring with water, using my handkerchief as a cleaning rag.  I was glad I was not in bear country where I would have attracted bears from miles around.  It was also fortunate that Marv would be picking me up the next day and I could wash my tent, the sleeping liner and other food soaked items in the RV.
The highlight of the day was passing the 100 mile mark on the trail. Woo Hoo! I'm moving on!

The 100 mile mark on the trail.