13th May 2025

I woke at 3:30am, my stomach noisily shouting  how empty it was. I guess hiker hungers has well and truly been established. Unable to sleep, I set about making a rough plan for mileage and campsites for the next two weeks. At a reasonable hour, Dan and I made coffee and were joined at the table by our trail family. We wandered into town and enjoyed a big breakfast at Grizzly Cafe, my stomach finally satisfied.

We’ve been moving with the same small group since Big Bear. The affection I feel for these individuals is surely over quantified considering we’ve only known each other for less than four weeks. But that’s what the trail will do, we’ve forged these strong relationships through common ground and unconditional desire for one another to stay on trail.

Anyone who knows me well knows my love language is baking. I sometimes struggle to show my gratitude for others. Baking for people is easier than expressing these emotions and so I decided to make a cake for my trail family. In the kitchen I assembled the cake, whipping egg whites by hand without a mixer! 

Town days are always busy and do not leave an abundance of downtime. By evening we had done a full resupply, sorted resupply boxes and labelled our packages. We had stretched, rolled out aching muscles and taped any injury threats. I had popped both of my blisters and treated the wounds prompting them to dry. All washing was done, some items of clothing needing a run through the heavy duty load setting twice! Water filters had been cleaned and flushed ready for use. Dan sewed up the hole in his shorts and I had sewn the holes in my thermals.

With chores complete I could finally soak in the bath enjoying my book and allowing a moment of calm. Latter, Drizzle and I made hot chocolates for the house while popcorn popped in the microwave, before sitting down to watch the Goonies. It’s gonna be hard leaving this!