DAYS 36-39

DAYS 36-39

DAY 36

5-29-2013

Miles: None; Zero at The Saufley's

-Woke up late at 10:00am!!!!! Some hiker was playing beautiful piano music from the community piano here. Had a bowl of Coco Puffs with milk... not a luxury in the real world but a definite luxury in hiker world! Nice way to wake up!

-Going to see a doctor at 1:00pm today. I'm nervous to find out what they say, and I'm nervous about the cost. I've got insurance, but I'm still pretty broke right now. I hope they take credit cards!!!!!!!!

-I haven't helped out with chores here, and I feel badly about this. Not everyone is expected to help, but I feel like I should help. However all the chores require me to be on my feet and I'm trying to take it easy and elevate my legs. If I stay here longer I will contribute to the chores. If I can get cleared to go hike, I'll send The Saufley's a donation check. 

-Went to the doctor and I'm so excited: nothing serious!!!!!!! Yay! He said I have a badly sprained knee, and that I should rest one more week before returning to the trail. I'm so excited I get to have another chance at the PCT! Now I've got a goofy looking knee brace, but that's fine with me! For the next week I'll elevate and ice my knee, rest a ton, and take lots of ibuprofen. I'm so relieved nothing is broken or fractured! :)

DAY 37

5-30-2013

Miles: Zero at The Saufley's

-Slept in till 8:00am

-Packed things up from the trailer bedroom I got to sleep in for two nights. I needed to move out to let other hikers enjoy a nice bed. I found a comfy cot in a tent outside. 

-Chilled out most of the day, rested and iced my knee, watched movies with other hikers, washed dishes and cleaned the kitchen countertops, gathered up laundry

-Ordered salad, pizza, and dr. pepper from Big Mouth Pizza in Agua, Dulce

-I want to get a mountain bike after the trail. I think it would be fun to get into. I wish I could go ride a bike into town right now, but I can't because of my knee. Grrrrrrr. Oh well!

-Forest fire in the Green Valley area. Smoke all over the horizon and overhead. I'm glad I already hiked that section of the trail to The Anderson's house! Curious if I'll see DB and Giant again or if they will barely miss the fire. They headed out towards the fire. 

-Crazyknees still isn't feeling too good. He is here another night. So far, the hikers who are "out sick" are myself, Crazyknees, Smurf, Janice, Dumpster Baby, and a few others. They're all taking off soon so I'll be the last to leave- like Hotel California. Haha. 

DAY 38

5-31-2013

Miles: Zero at The Saufley's

-Woke up around 7:00am. Slept well in my cot. Went to the outhouse near the horse stables. I stopped at the horse corral on my way back towards my cot. The horses are beautiful and so sweet! I had a special horse moment this morning. It's gonna be a good day!

-Forest fire is contained and all hikers are accounted for. No evacuations! Yay! :)

-Got paid! I've gotta budget myself this month. 

-Trip to town with "Rhondi", Journal, Captain Christy, Russell, Siesta, Ugliest Cheerleader, and Work Horse. We went to REI, Snow cones, In & Out, Von's Groceries. I bought 2 hiking dresses to hike in. Dresses are so comfortable to hike and sleep in! I got a few other random hiking items, meal replacement powder shakes, powdered peanut butter, a snow cone, a burger, and some food at the grocery store. It was a fun afternoon because I've been cooped up for over a week. Seeing civilization was interesting and fun! I am sure it sounds crazy to some, but I see the civilized world differently when I return to it from a wild place. People who are different from one another don't really mingle or make eye contact with each other, everything is rushed, there are tons of colors and patterns and things fighting to get one's attention. Cars rush by. The ground is flat, level, and hard. It gets cool during the middle of the day (because there is air conditioning). The In & Out cashier pushes fast food towards the masses. I can't believe how fast these hot meals just appear to me in a matter of seconds- crazy! A hot meal like that takes a long time for a hiker to produce. There are toilets everywhere; many are public! Public toilets have never been so appealing to me in my entire life! What a luxury! Everything in the civilized world is luxurious. I enjoy being cut off from it because watching it is amusing. It makes me appreciate much more. It's fun to experience this with other people because we all share the same experience. 

DAY 39

6-1-2013

Miles: Zero at The Saufley's

-Slept horribly last night. I felt restless. I am ready to hike again!!!! I feel very antsy. 

-Got to know Voodoo Cheese, Russell, Siesta, Smurf, Stevie, and Pukey. We rode to town for lunch at the Sweetwater Cafe. I had a big salad; the freshness was much needed. The servers at Sweetwater Cafe act like they're swamped when they're not at all busy... not good service but really yummy food!

-I got a ride back to The Saufley's from a really sweet couple. They put my bike in the back of their truck and let me ride inside with them. Yay! I forget the couple's name (sorry)- its on a business card that I mailed back to myself in Texas. I explained to them that they had performed some trail magic by giving me a ride back "home." If y'all are reading this: Thank you for your help!!!!!!!!!

-Got updates on the forest fire. Decided to leave The Saufley's in the morning to Hiker Town a bit up the trail in order to bypass the fire. -Excited to sleep! Fell asleep on my cot, but I woke up feeling hungry around midnight. I woke up, ate some food in the trailer, and spotted an empty bedroom! I slept on the bare mattress in the bedroom with a fuzzy blanket I found. I was in the lap of luxury! I slept so incredibly well!