May 29, 2018 …and I would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more….

So what did you do this week?  Most of us were busy finishing up school, working, planning our summer vacations.  Granny Hat weeded in her flower and vegetable gardens, went to the mountains over the weekend with her granddaughters Isla and Brighton, and even walked a few hundred feet from the car to Pinecrest Lake laden with food, lawn chairs and beach toys. She also hiked up to the top of the hill behind the cabin to get a cell signal so she could check Mission’s SPOT.  Whew!  Granny Hat was hot and tired and just a little grumpy that there was only one bar of service after her hike!

Meanwhile, Mission hiked past the 500 mile marker today and down into the Antelope Valley.  The next 500 miles should get him right between Yosemite National Park and Sonora Pass. 500 miles!  That’s how far it is from San Diego to San Francisco on straight highways.  Or from Salt Lake City to Denver!  Or from London to Paris! (and some of that would be on a boat unless you swam the English channel!)  It’s far and today it was hot and dusty. Don’t let these beautiful lush green photos fool you.  Mission and his Dad had a grueling day, or at least Dad had a tough day.  He said he can’t keep up with the “young, skinny, bouncy hikers”.  He has decided to  get a breakfast burrito in the morning with a tall glass of orange juice before heading home.  Granny Hat will interview him about his two days on the trail with Stephan later, bound to be interesting and funny.

And there is the Antelope Valley and part of the Mojave Desert, which Mission will cross tomorrow.  He made it to Hiker Town this evening.  Hiker Town is a settlement with potable water, showers, camping sites, a bar, some interesting locals and a rich, notorious history. Granny Hat started to research it and decided that what happens in Hiker Town stays in Hiker Town.  Mission said he is happy because there is hot water there and he had his first shower since his dorm room at school right before he hit the trail.

The next two days will be a 45 mile nearly water-less section of trail along the Los Angeles Aqueduct (just can’t completely get away from Los Angeles). Tonight’s GPS coordinates are: 34.77619, -118.6057  Zoom in and you’ll see the Hiker Town Compound, not exactly a Five Star but to a 500 mile PCT trekker, a hot shower can be heaven on earth.

“And the Lord will continually guide you.  And satisfy your desire in scorched places.  and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail”  Isaiah 58:11  Amen!  God be with you, Mission!