Angels

Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20-21
Mile 478, Casa de Luna (Anderson's)

This stretch of trail has been all about the people. We've been sidling right up next to civilization, so the remote wilderness ideal is a distant dream. But it's been beautiful and unforgettable. I've met some incredible people these past few days; a reminder that there's more to this trail than just hiking.

Music is a great way to hide from the torrentialdownpours. T-Bow, Smooth Operator, Magic Stick, The Zone, and Angry Bird (making a banjo!)

First came the Saufleys at Hiker Heaven, a completely fitting name for the well-oiled machine that caters to pct hikers. Donna and Jeff Saufley are saintly in their generosity to weary, smelly, and battered thruhikers. Within a couple hours of sitting on some cushy couches on the patio, my laundry was done for me, I had a hot shower, my care packages were picked up, and I was thanking every god I knew for the Saufleys.

24 miles of endless, undulating, sanity-testing chapparal, and we were at the Anderson's. A different scene to be sure, with a night of rowdy conversation and taco salad and stumbling through the dark with Itis and laughing when we lost our backpacks down the rabbit hole/manzanita grove.

Cheers to Trail Magic by the Andersons!

We call the generous strangers who help us "Trail Angels". That's a kindness that makes me want to be better, a reminder that we only get by with a little help from our friends.