August 7th
Ashland is the biggest town we have been in since 3 months ago when we met our friends Randi and Charlie who live in Rancho Cucamonga. So much we can and need to do here. We take a zero day. In addition to the usual laundry, internet, groceries, I get a haircut, we go gear shopping and get to see a movie!
Ashland has two outfitters and most through hikers take advantage of this to replace items that have worn out or purchase new things they need. On our list of purchases:
Shoes – We both need new shoes. The old ones have done well. Mine lasted a little over 1,000 miles, which is on the high end of how long shoes usually last for me.
Sleeping pads – the Zrest pads have become compressed and offer less padding than they once did. Both of us have felt this in or hips. Again, not unexpected, as typically these pads need to be replaced somehwere mid-hike. Stacking up the new one alongside the old one is an eye opening experience. The old one has lost a couple inches.
Platypus bladders – the old ones are cracking, delaminating and getting holes. Held together with several piece of duct tape and a lot of hope, we would hate to have them leak unexpectedly in any of the many waterless stretches coming up, so we buy new ones. I don’t have a feel for whether it is normal wear and tear, but the have 1,500 to 1,800 miles on them.
A new stuff sack – for the food that I am carrying. With trail appetites kicked in and with increased quantities of food, the old stuff sack is just too small, and is too long and narrow to fit in the pack as well as it should.
Toek joins us for the movie, Fahrenheit 911, which gives us a lot to contemplate on the trail during the days ahead. After the movie we check out the microbrewery and go to diner at Ashland’s oldest restaurant, Omars with fine seafood and wine. All very civilized.
