We left the North Fork ranger station at mile 436 at about 4:30pm once it had started to cool. We said good bye to Gumby and Camel and two others and made our way down towards the desert. Leaving the ranger station and crossing the dividing line into the Mojave the landscape litteraly seem to change on the line. The trees disappeard and we were back on a white sandy trail with only small hearty bushes for plants.
Originally we thought about trying to make it the 8 miles down to the KOA, but it got dark before got there. We camped on a ridge about a mile from the creek basin with the KOA. We had a great view and the setting sun made for a great evening.
I might have had a great nights sleep if I would not have had my air mat deflate on me. About two hours into my sleep I awoke with my body on the floor, not floating on the 2-inches of cushioned air I had been used to. I thought I might not have closed the valve all the way, so I blew it up again and made sure it was tight. Nope, I was back on the hard ground some time later. So I slept the rest of the night on the floor.
Despite the bad luck, my sleeping pad malfunction could not have happend at a better time. The next day we were headed here, to the Saufley's! We got up at 4:30am to be on the trail by 5:15 so that we could make the 11 mile hike into Agua Dulce in the cool morning. By 9am it did start to get hot, but we were closing in on Agua Dulce and were able to make it to the Sweetwater Cafe for breakfast.
This was a much anticipated breakfast as Tiffany and I are still trying to nail down how much food we are eating. We tried to carry only the bare minimum for food on this stretch with the goal that we would have nothing left when we walked into Agua Dulce. We did have nothing left, but I cannot say we always ate when we wanted to and we were certainly ready for more food. We probably won't do that again!
The Sweetwater Cafe did not disapoint. We split their veggie and cheese omlet and the loaded breakfast burrito with sides of hash brown and toast. We then waddled up Darling Street to the Saufley's. The Saufley's is a well known hiker stop along the trail. The Saufley's open their home and back yard to the multitudes of people hiking the trail each year. They provide showers, laundry, a cot to sleep on, and with the help of volunteers will shuttle people into town for needed items. On my ride into town we stopped to drop someone off at an AA meeting, then someone else picked up a backpacker guitar from a pawn shop, REI, Trader Joes, and Vons (like Safeway).
I took the ride into REI so that I could replace my sleeping pad. I am now back on the Thermarest Z-Lite. This is a closed cell foam mat that isn't as comfortable as my air mat, but cannot get a hole and deflate in the middle of the night. I wasn't expecting the Vons' stop, but took the opportunity to get some of the items I might not find in the small Agua Dulce store. I was also able to sneak a quick trip to Wendy's accross from the REI while we were waiting to be picked back up. You cannot miss an oportunity for a frosty and french fries.
As we were driving back to the Saufley's I saw Tiffany and 4 others flying down the hill on bikes towards the town. (The Saufley's provide a fleet of bikes to get around Agua Dulce.) They were headed to the $1.25 taco night at the local mexican joint. After puting away the groceries I got a ride from someone else going into town and joined them. We drank Corona and ate our mini tacos.
Full from cheap tacos a group of hikers joined around a camp fire at the Saufley's swaping trail stories. These stops are fun to see how many people you are hiking with on the trail. You pass or get passed by people while you are hiking, but it isn't until you get to a stop like this that everyone is in one place. I stayed up way past hiker midnight, 10:30.
This morning I sit at the "internet cafe" station at the Saufley's. Tiffany has joined me and we are discussing the days chores; where to get breakfast, counting our next stretch of calories, and when to go shopping.
I am still realy enjoying the trail and don't have much to complain about. Life is simple and great. Oh, and for those who have been wondering, my trail name is Midnight Chocolate. This is the trail name I aquired on the Colorado Trail.
Will try to add photos later today.
Happy Trails!
Trail Statistics
Mile: 455
Days: 28
Body: Resting Up
Candy Bars: 14
Bags of Chips: 4
Jars of Peanut Butter: 1 (Shared)
Showers: 7 (6 with soap)
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