Journey Day 22 | PCT Day 22

Big Bear Lake up ahead, California

5/8/85

Arose with the sun, hiked into town. Ate a luscious omelette and fixin’s at Chuck and Jacquie’s in Big Bear City. Hiked on to the Bluewater Lodge, an efficiency where Keith and I had our first showers since Anza. It was our first hotel since starting.

The shower felt foreign and I bumped my knees off my head getting into bed.

The day was hectic. After surviving mountains, snow, storms, etc., bureaucracy and the city almost stopped us.

Broke, I discovered my Visa was overdrawn. After much tomfoolery and anguish I got $100 from Mom via Western Union. Without a car, we hitched around town. Only the more worn-out cars stopped for us. 

Town life was uncomfortable. I’m ready to head back to the path. Eight days to our Malibu break a wonderful incentive. 

The pack’s back up in weight. Hopefully my body’s conditioned better to handle the weight now. Still nothing like the major weights carried from Campo, the Mexican border.

Girls are looking great, but there’s no time to stop for PCT hikers hungering for more path to tread. The girls only six miles ahead of us on the trail a few days are likely gone forever.

Big Bear City our first town with any accommodations. Probably the largest we’ll see along the path. I really don’t miss city life. At least not yet!