2013-05-20 - Day 12 Tehachappi to Walker pass

5/20/2013
Miles: 00

Leaving Highway 58

2:00 PM
Walker Pass Campground, Highway 178, Onyx, CA

It was nice to have a shower, a good meal, TV and good WIFI last night. We both were ready to go this morning. We left the room about 8:30 and drove directly to the trailhead.

I left Dan at the trail (Cameron Road and 58) at about 10:00. I took a leisurely ride down to 14 then north and east through Inyokern to Ridgecrest. I found cheap gas there ($3.85 vs $4.19) then went to Walmart. I got myself more Coke, the granola bars Dan is short and even though he said not to, a pair of reasonable sunglasses. I think it is a bad plan for him to go through the snow in the Sierra with the Dollar Store pair he is currently using. If he balks and will not use them I will keep them myself. They are Polarized and work well for driving on a sunny day (I tried them).

I had considered taking a bike ride in town and looked up one of the local parks. It was quite warm there and did not seem like a good place to leave the car unattended so I decided to come up here to escape the heat. Although the highway is twisty, steep and without shoulder I thought I would ride here. When I pulled into the campground there was a couple eating at the table of the only decent site. I pulled in and asked if they intended to occupy the site. They said I was welcome to it and we started talking. They are hikers from Washington bound for Canada. They arrived here this morning and are expecting a friend to bring them a resupply box today. They have no phone signal here and were anxious about their rendezvous and food supply and decided to hitchhike into Lake Isabela, the closest significant town. They have commissioned me to intercept their friend and direct her to town. It is fine. I will be much safer and have more fun riding on Kelso Valley Road tomorrow. You can see I am still lazy.

I am sitting here in the car at about 5,000 feet with a hot sun shining on the front window and a respectable breeze wafting through the open windows. There is not really a good spot for my tent where I am so I may sleep on my cot next to the picnic table. The couple said it was warm where they slept last night 500-1000 feet higher than this place.

8:45 PM

Sleeping Out

It is almost bedtime. It is quiet and peaceful here. I could put the tent up on the paved drive but it is a warm and calm evening so I will sleep "cowboy style", on my cot next to the picnic table. "Real" cowboy camping involves sleeping on the ground but I am willing to cheat.

I had a lazy afternoon of sitting around. I opened a can of Dennison Hot Chili and a can of sliced peaches for dinner. After dinner I saw a person up the hill. I walked up and had a nice chat with 3 hikers who are camped there, 2 Texans, George and Max, and another Washingtonian, a lady named Ann. They started at the border April 5 so have been on the trail 45 days. They plan or hope to reach the Canadian Border by October 1st.

I look forward to having a good night's sleep.