I don’t think I will ever get used to the severe temperature changes in the desert. Contrary to yesterdays grueling heat during the day, last night was crazy cold. Woke up, broke down camp and continued hiking downhill. Today would be only a half day of hiking and I was excited. Rawhide and I would try to hitch into Ridgecrest today, some 13 miles away where I had camped. In Ridgecrest we had packages waiting at the post office, which I am very excited to pick up.
Rawhide and I were contemplating our options to get into town and what to do after. We were told that it would not be an easy hitch. If we didn’t get lucky we could wait out the evening and catch the Monday morning bus at 0600 am. The post-office would not be open till monday-morning anyway, but if we got there early, at least we’d be able to get our resupply done. If there wouldn’t be a campground around in Ridgecrest, we considered getting a room somewhere. Standing alongside the highway, we were hitching for approximately 30 minutes when a car pulled over. We were picked up by Brian and his son Lars. Brian and his son drove out this morning to go fishing, and had picked up 2 thru-hikers that were headed in the opposite direction, so when he saw us on his way back he figured; why not take along a couple more hikers today. As we got to talking during the ride to Ridgecrest, he asked us what our plans were and if we had a place to stay. When we told him about our intended shopping and packages at the post office. Immediately he offered to take us in for the night, let us take a shower, and take us to the post-office tomorrow morning. This all happened within 5 minutes of getting into the car with him. Absolutely amazing! Rawhide and I were so relieved that we didn’t have to worry anymore about any planning while being in Ridgecrest! We got to Brian’s house, took a shower and then went to Wall-mart for resupply. After getting back to the house, he told us that he wanted to show us something special. And it really was: Check out Brian’s Man-Cave!
Brian plays the bass in a band, and every now and then he invites friends over to hang-out in his private bar. The band would play, they’d order in some food and just have a great time. He told us many stories, and I really thought that he had a real special thing going on there.
Because it was fathers-day, Brian and his girlfriend Christina were heading over to his dads place for a family-dinner. In line with all the generosity he had showered us with throughout the day already, we were invited to tag along. Oh the shear joy Rawhide and I felt by hearing we’d be partaking in a Jalapeño Poppers and Ribs-dinner; Every hungry thru-hikers dream!
We drove over and soon we were introduced to Bruce, Char and Julie, and had the most amazing meal. I ate so much my stomach hurt. We swapped stories all evening, and we felt like we were taken into their home as if being family. I told them that only a couple hours before when Rahwhide and I were trying to hitch out, we had no idea how this day would turn out. That it would take this unbelievable turn, was beyond us. We felt so grateful to have crossed paths with Brian and that we now were spending the evening with such wonderful people; Trail-Angels in the purest form.
After dinner, we drove back and hung out a little longer in Brian’s studio. We shared some more tales of the trail, but not long after we got ready for bed. Tomorrow morning we’ll get shuttled to the post-office and back to the trail-head, to continue our 2.5 day march to Kennedy Meadows. Showered, extremely well-fed, and filled with amazement about the kindness of people along the way, this was very memorable day. Many many thanks to the Ridgecrest Angels!
To the gods in the sky
There’s one thing you can do
You can send us some sun
And we’ll play you this tune
Because sitting in our room
Lying down with a scoob
And the sunshine
Through our window
It’s days like these
That make us happy
Like a puppy getting lucky
With Lassie hassle-free
Hours passing by
With the beat one two
Said it’s days like these kicking back
Just doing what we do
whoo-ooh-ooh-oooh
Days like these – The Cat Empire
