Modesto-El Cerrito

June 4-7, 2018

Well, this was how Monday started. Nothing better than a morning cup of coffee and comfy chair to start the day off right. Uncle Walt made us feel right at home and aided us in running a few errands early in the day, namely getting me to a doctor.

The doc visit was needed. I hadn’t allowed my body to rest and my sinus problems seemed to get slightly better but really they needed more than OTC stuff to combat what I had going on. I was given an inhaler and antibiotics and instructed to take at least 3 days off from hiking. Well poop, I thought. It was more just sinuses and more like acute bronchitis. What I didn’t want was an upper respiratory infection or pneumonia–all possible if I’d ignored my symptoms.

From that point on, I concocted a plan to head home to Las Vegas. I also knew that getting Justin back to the trail would be first priority. He needed a few things before he’d head back to the PCT on Tuesday, like fuel and a GPS. With stops at a taqueria for lunch, Big 5, Dicks Sporting Goods, Cold Stone Creamery and Bass Pro Shops we made all the necessary purchases and Uber’d back to the house. Aunt Carrie made her delicious Calico Beans and Uncle Walt grilled ribs and chicken. Delicious dinner feast, check.

When Tuesday came I was barely 3 doses into my antibiotics. Aunt Carrie made us breakfast bagel sandwiches to tide us over until lunch. Since Sunday, Uncle Walt had been talking about a restaurant in an old township outside of Sonora and we agreed to stop there for lunch on our drive back to the PCT. We ate a place called The Standard Pour. It used to be bank back in the day but it’s now been turned into a cool bar and restaurant. The food was delish! It was a great place for Justin to chow down on some extra calories before heading back into the woods.

We made it back to Sonora Pass and as excited as I was to be there, I’m glad I wasn’t headed back to the trail. I could almost immediately feel the pressure in my sinuses. My ears still had no relief. Justin on the other hand was packed an ready to go. I know that guy is going to walk every mile of the trail, I admire his dedication.

So we said our “See you laters” and Justin hiked on. You can see a berm of snow that clearly marked the first few steps for him. Ugh. We discussed meeting back up down the trail when I get better. I may skip ahead to find friends and get out of the snow–if that is possible–but I haven’t made that decision just yet.

As far as the friends go, I know that Joey and Tyler (Fireman) have made it through most of the Sierras. Laura and her brother, Dan, are headed to Markleeville in a few days. Heidi went into Bridgeport as she hyperextended her knee but she was planning to head back out on Tuesday as well. I believe Seeker, Groover and PaceCar are all together trucking along as usual. I’ve seen posts from Shrink (who had skipped ahead to the CA/OR border) and he’s dealing with snow there but having a blast again. And Dani — who left the trail in Big Bear if my memory serves me correct — is back on Trail and having her own hilarious yet scary moments. She started back up at Truckee and has been dealing with snow as well.

So as much as I want to be out there, I’m very much okay with being sick and taking a break. Sure I wish I felt better, but everything happens for a reason. This time has allowed me to visit with family I hadn’t seen in years. I spent some time with my cousins and their children, whom I’d never met. Such a pleasure to see how sweet their kids are and catch up on the lives they lead. My cousins, Sarah and Andrea, were full of questions for me and my experiences of the trail. They both made me laugh telling me this blog was like reality TV for them. I’m glad to know I can provide a little bit of entertainment for you all.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we (Uncle Walt, Aunt Carrie and myself) coordinated a dinner meet up in Livermore. My brother and his girlfriend Giovanna drove over from El Cerrito. We had an amazing dinner (Thanks again, Uncle Walt) and then I rode back to El Cerrito with my brother Glen. I’m not sure why it’s taken me this long, but they’ve lived in this house for 6 years and I’ve never been here. See! These are the reasons I love this experience, the reconnections I’ve made I will cherish forever!!!!

Tomorrow I will fly home to Las Vegas. There’s a few things at the house I will take care of. I’ll also attempt to get my Recurrent training done while I’m in town so I won’t have to think about it next month when it’s due.

As I mentioned before, I’m scared to go home because time off from the trail has a way of sucking you back into normal life. I’m going to do my best to get back to the PCT. I’m settled with the fact that I may not walk every mile of it, but I still have time to cover a lot more ground of it. I still have a permit to walk into Canada and I want to make use of it 🙂. With more people starting to enter the Sierras, by the time I return I think the hiking crowd will be even a little more dispersed. Enough hikers have bounced around and skipped forward so I’m expecting that the number of NOBO hikers in the NorCal/Oregon area will continue to grow… especially with the warmer tempts and melting snow.

From here, I’ll take a few days off from the blog. Time to get rid of this crud!!!! When the backpack is packed again, you will all know. Thanks for being a part of this adventure this far. It’s been 875 miles of smiles. I still hope for plenty more!