Mile 91 - 101 Third Gate to Barrel Springs

Day 10
Decided not to go any further yesterday just to avoid the crowds. We have gone from seeing no one on the trail to hangin with probably about 20 other hikers yesterday at the third gate water supply area.

Hikers were lying under any available tree or tarp that gave shade. At about 6pm when it was getting cool enough to hike again, a group of 5 or so had gathered on the trail. They were getting ready to do a bit of night hiking. Tracy had joined them to wish them well and I hovered in the background. And then, as if in slow motion, all sound stopped and we all parted to make way for this vision bounding along the trail. At first I was slightly blinded by the whiteness of his teeth and made dizzy by the shimmering of his blond curls. I therefore lowered my eyes only to take in the Hawaiian shirt, running shorts (no one is hiking in shorts) and the solid mahogany calves. He could only be from California. He stopped to address us, well the guys in the group at least, adjusting the army duffle bag on his shoulder (no ultra lite back pack for him). "Hey guys. So I just started to cruise up here like at 2:30pm (no one hikes then if they can avoid it, too hot)"
Crowd: Cool! Sweet!
"Yeah so I was like at Scissors crossing and hanging with like Lion King"
Crowd: Woah! Sweet!
"Yeah so I'm like gonna get some H2o and then like I am up for a little moonlight hiking!
Crowd: Cool! Sweet! Me too!
"Sweet"
He grinned, the world momentarily turned white and then he was gone.

And then we had a delicious meal of turkey Alfredo.

This morning we got on the trail at 6am, arrived at Barrel Springs at 11am and hung out all day. Only one other couple staying here tonight, Brett and Erin from Oakland. Brett's a biologist so I have been learning a lot about local flora and fauna. Off to play cards with them. Night night.

We have walked 100 miles. Yeee haaa!

P.S. Had first rattlesnake encounter! No one died.