Day 13- May 2nd

So today we walked 15 miles. (Well 15 trail miles but a more accurate number for miles walked is 16 and change.) now 15 miles is not uncommon out here on the PCT. So what made today so special? I walked it with no soles.

That's right, no insoles in my shoes. Reason: Our feet have started to swell in the desert, and we are now learning that we should've started with a size larger of shoe. This isn't a lack of research problem, just an underestimation of foot swell combined with sweaty socks combined with blisters!

Up until today I've been able to wear my shoes like normal, with a little rub on the feet and some minor blisters, but nothing too major. This morning the fit was wayyyyy to tight, and within the first couple hundred yards I knew I had to switch something up. So out went the soles and away went (a little bit) of the pain.

We had stoked up with water at Mike's yesterday, but found a cool surprise cache along the way! 

Nothing like unopened jugs of water in the desert, time to camel up! :)

We hiked long and hard and hot and tiring. Saw some beautiful views for sure but man are we beat! 

So pretty!!

The last couple miles went by painstakingly slow! I was hobbling in pain with every step in the last super long incline! Blisters + hot feet + plantar warts + no insoles + rocky/sandy ground = slow hobble..

Which actually brings me to my next topic! We came up with some clever trail names today! Yes, you're supposed to let other people pick your trail names, but since we've been avoiding most big group hiking interactions, we now have some temporary ones at least until we become properly named.

Ready? Claire's trail name is "Calvin' "

My trail name is "Hobbles"

Like Calvin and Hobbes! I had jokingly suggested earlier that Claire's name be "Calves", since she already has nicely toned dancer calves, one could say she's Calvin'! (Pronounced ka-vin) I always seem to be hobbling the last few miles a day because of my blisters, so there it is! 

After a looooong day we finally made it to the highway that we'd be hitching 18 miles NW from to get to Idylwild. After 15 minutes and about 30 cars that passed us by (light-traffic highway), we finally got a hit!

His name was Charlie and he was an ex-police officer that had worked in the narcotics division, and had some cool stories about local drug busts and grow-operation stake-outs in the area. He was very kind and gave us a tour of Idylwild. He asked where we wanted to be dropped off and let us know that there was a local taco-night special every Monday at a near-by Mexican joint. Guess where we ended up? Yup. 

$1 tacos and $5.50 margaritas!! 

We didn't stop there of course; we each had 5 tacos, the margs, some cervesa, and some deep fried ice cream! (Along with house chips and salsa during the entire dining experience) I'm allowed to constantly stuff my face, we just walked over 150 miles in less than 2 weeks! 

We were the only hikers there still dirty and accompanied by our packs. The rest had walked over from the campground where all their stuff was. After eating, we hobbled down to find the campgrounds, got lost, and then got a ride right to our campsite. 

Which brings me to the present. It's 9:30 and waaaay past normal sleep-time. Plan for tomorrow: Take some showers and do some laundry, pick up the new stove that Laguna Dave sent to us, get some new (bigger) shoes at the local outfitter, and then depending on what time it is either hitch back out to where we left off today or stay one more night and get an early start! 

-Thanks for reading!