Got the earliest departure yet. On the trail at 6:45am. At 8:30am the heat was incredible. We're talking Lawrence of Arabia meets that-film-where-Kirsten-Scott-Thomas-dies-in-the-desert kind of hot. Blisters, ball of foot pain, heat rashes, and shoulder spasms now seem like mere trifles now that frying up like a bacon rasher and perishing is a real possibility.
Fortunately we met a local woman on the trail who told us about a giant rock where we could rest for a while in the shade. Since I didn't think we'd be meeting anyone on the trail, I was wearing my tinted glasses that make me look like I operate in the black market selling puppy fur. Naturally we ran into lots of people today.
We met our first dudes under the big shady rock. Anson is a handsome chappie who is carrying a 6 foot pine staff along the trail with him. Jesse has a fantastic red pirates beard and jazzy leggings. They are friends who met in Iraq during their army service. We spent a really nice hour and a half chatting before setting of into the heat again.
By the time we had reached the San Felipe Valley we were down to our last drops of water and energy. We had met a park ranger from South Lake Tahoe earlier in the day who had planted the seed " resort, swimming pool, cabin, 3 miles hitch from Scissors Crossing, that's where I'd go!"
I wasn't sure if this were some kind of trail joke. Anyhow we ended up taking a wrong turn, but got a half mile ride to the highway and from there started to walk. Every time we heard a car, Tracy would hold out her thumb and I would try to look as sweet and innocent as I could in my seedy glasses. Nothin.
Then we arrived at a Fire station just as a fireman was leaving in his truck. He asked if we were okay and if we needed water to be sure to go in and ask for some. So we got one of our water bladders filled and talked to a few of the firemen. They said it was only about a mile to the resort.
We still couldn't quite face the next mile, so we sat under the shade of a tree in front of the small community centre next to the fire station to cool down. A few minutes later a guy walks along the road and says hello. Tracy tells him we want a ride to the resort. He says that if we'd like to attend his bible reading he could give us a ride afterwards at 8pm. We politely decline his offer. Two minutes later a female voice from the community centre hollers "wanna cup of coffee?" So sweet! Tracy however declines, and then I know there's definitely something wrong with her. She's normally all about coffee. She's REALLY exhausted. Not long after that, the original fireman returns and offers to take us to the resort! Saviour!
They had no cabins left so we camped but they had hot showers and a laundry. It took Ages to scrub off all the dirt and we had to wear our waterproofs while we waited for our clothes. However there was air conditioning and a place to put our feet up. It was the best night I spent in a laundromat EVER!
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