We’re getting close to the last of the desert! What a weird and cool section this has been. After the frog closure day, we pushed to make our longest day yet, about 24 miles. What else could motivate hikers to such efforts, but cold soda? I rewarded myself with root beer and Mountain Dew that day. Tinkle, Florian, and I met up with a couple of gals, Kristie/Excel from New Zealand and Helen/Deadzone from England. There wasn’t room for all of us in the camping area, so we ended up in the stalls of a horse corral. We had a little too much fun “cage dancing” that night and in the morning. A trail angel and multiple thru-hike alumnus, Ron, made us hot dogs for breakfast.

After that, we did a pleasant 10 mile hike to a KOA campground with WiFi, a pool, hot tub, showers, laundry, a shop with ice cream, and within delivery distance of Chinese food! We took advantage of all of these things. While doing laundry, Florian used a loaner pair of jean shorts, and thereby earned the name Daisy Dukes. We ended up taking a nero, or near-zero day, to eat absurd amounts of ice cream, get clean, and listen to children sing terrible karaoke.

Another ten miles after that, through the Vasquez Rocks, we entered the town of Agua Dulce. The beautiful day was made more beautiful by the first person we saw in town, who stopped their car to tell us that there was a hiker/community meal waiting for us. I kid you not when I say it was the best taco salad I have ever had. Agua Dulce is one of the very few towns that the PCT actually goes through, instead of just going near. The people of the town, for the first time, were putting on this meal for the hikers to get to know the locals and vice versa. What a lucky day for us to go through! Normally the meal would cost money, but locals sponsored tickets for hikers to eat for free. This town was amazing. After we ate, we got a ride from Hiker Heaven, the house of a couple of trail angels, who had everything a hiker could want. There was a charging station, sewing machines, WiFi, haircut station, hiker box, coolers, laundry, and dogs! It took a tremendous effort of will to leave, but we didn’t want to do two neros so soon after we had taken a zero in Wrightwood.

So we left and soon had a six mile uphill with full packs from our resupply in town. We had a great pace and made it in two hours, which is more of a big deal than it sounds. Trust me. Another milestone we hit that day was one million steps! To reward my feet and legs, I’d picked up a tennis ball to roll massage them during breaks and at night. It’s now my favorite piece of gear.

The next day was chilly and misty and as I walked through the deep green, rolling hills, I was reminded of Jurassic Park. Below is a video of my little homage to the classic. However, I did not see any velociraptors. Almost as scary was the blister on my toe that wouldn’t die, so I drew a face on it and named him Toe-ny.

Earlier, Florian had enjoyed scaring children at the KOA by telling them I had an eleventh toe. Tinkle, Florian, Toe-ny, and I got a easy hitch a few miles later and headed to Casa de Luna, another trail angel’s house. The Andersons have a well established haven where you must wear a Hawaiian shirt and dance to earn your hiker bandana. Also featured at Casa de Luna are painted rocks from many years of hikers, corn hole, disc golf, hammocks, couches, taco salad, and an awesome forest to camp in.

Casa de Luna is another milestone on the PCT journey, named so because it takes about one month to get there from the start. For Tinkle, Daisy Dukes (Florian), and I, we arrived exactly one month from when we started. One month. It’s crazy to think I’ve been hiking for that long. I started the trail thinking that I’d have to convince myself to keep walking every day, but my experience has been incredible. Apart from general soreness and having to take my time on downhills, I’m holding up well. The people have been interesting, the trail has been beautiful and varied, and I’m getting pretty good at this walking thing.