May 24th – The Feast of Unlimited Consumption
Morning at the Andersons means pancakes, waffles and boysenberry syrup servedup to hungry hikers seated on the coaches and floor of a crowded living room, dogs licking up the droppings. After breakfast there is just enough time to pose for polaroids photos and sign our names to the bed sheet mural hanging on the garage, before “Joe’s Taxi” made the first of several runs taking hikers back to the trail and then water to the caches.
The cool weather continues making the up and downs over exposed ridges bearable. Otherwise this section could be very hot. Occasional views into the western end of the flat Mojave desert provide a look into our future. And they also reveal the continuing blanket of smog sent from the LA basin and over the mountains to fill up this otherwise empty quarter. The smog in general seems worse than 10 years ago, although a sample of a couple weeks only could be tainted by other conditions.
We only have 19 miles to cover today before we meet up with cousins Jim and June at Sawmill campground. The relatively shorter and easier day makes for pleasant walking. Being on the first ride out of the Anderson’s leaves us room enough to hike more or less by ourselves for awhile.
The Carrot’s new shoes seem to be working out well. Because of general swelling in her feet she had outgrown her old ones, so when we were in Agua Dulce went along with a group that organized a ride to an REI about 40 minutes away. She came back with a shoe that fits, one that is 2 sizes larger than her old ones. This foot “growth” is not uncommon for long distance hikers, but it is curios for the Carrot, as it did not happen to her on the Appalachian Trail.
At 5:30pm we finallly arrive at Sawmill campground where Jim and June have already set up the first stages of anothere feast admidst the tall Oaks and Ponderosa pines. Super Tramp and Half Track roll in a short while later to join us as we gorge ourselves on country style BBQ ribs, grilled asperagus and onions, salad, beans, bread, wine and beer. What a great BBQ!! Once again we enjoy great food and fun times with the Schmidts.
We later found out that Crazy John {the Brit} as well as Matt and Adam were camped on the PCT just before the side trail and right below Sawmill CG. They could smell the cooking but couldn’t tell where it was coming from, missing this magic by less than a half mile more of hiking.
