Day 39, May 26: Mile 558 to 567 and into Tehachapi
Start: Mile 558.0
End: Tehachapi - Mile 566.5
Miles: 8.5
Ascent: 1178 | Descent: 1509
I woke up feeling much more rested after a good night’s sleep. I packed up quickly and started hiking out just after 5am. I ran into the German brothers shortly after and they quickly shot off past me. I walked below the wind turbines, enjoying this strange piece of the trail in the warm morning light, listening to my audiobook. The terrain was rolling and I passed through a field with cows with their calves.
There was a bus that could take me into Tehachapi from a highway but I didn’t think I would be able to catch it based on the time I left in the morning. So I was planning to hitch, but as I got closer to the highway, I realized I could maybe catch it if I hurried. So I started running, or run-walking, as much as I could. It was a pretty funny scene, me huffing and puffing with my heavy pack, dumping an extra liter of water I had as I was actively running to save on weight. I crossed some train tracks a mere minute before the long train came blowing through, and I called the bus line as I was running to confirm they would make the courtesy stop.
I made it to the bus stop with a few minutes to spare. But, as luck would have it, a trail angel was there and brought me and the other hikers into town. It was all for naught!
He dropped the others off at Walmart and brought me to the hotel where my friends were waiting. I checked in and went to breakfast, got a delicious steak and eggs breakfast and a side Caesar salad.
The rest of the day was normal town chores- Walmart resupply, washing clothes, post office to pick up packages. I received a couple, including an adorable card from my friend Ann, but new shoes I had my sister send next day air guaranteed 2 days before were still not there. I was very frustrated.
Still, there were lots of fun people in town so I wasn’t too out of sorts. I went with a group to dinner at a Thai restaurant called Thai Hachapi, and then we went to a VFW bar and played a pool game called Killer. Snake Charmer taught us this game, and you could play it with as many people as you want. Everyone starts with three lives and you take turns shooting whatever ball on the table, and if you miss it, you lose a life. We had a great time!