April 28, Day 29
Had a very relaxing day here at Big Bear. Enjoyed a fantastic breakfast at the Grizzly Manor Cafe (including all-you-can-eat pancakes), with a discount for hikers! Also met up again with Rampage, Nama, and a few other hikers. Spent a couple of hours at Big Bear Lake, then had coffee and cake at "The Copper Q." In between, we stopped at the visitor center to pick up some information and talk to the two staff members about the PCT and our film project. Staffer Robin has worked in the film industry in Los Angeles, mainly as a writer, but also as producer. Today she writes song lyrics ("Once a writer, always a writer!"), especially for country music. We pushed a couple of pins into the hikers' map, approximately where Stuttgart is.
When we returned to the lodge, we discovered a box at our door – from Virginia and David, who checked us in last night. They're a whimsical couple straight out of the Rocky Horror Picture Show - this is a compliment - and incredibly likeable. The box was filled with lots of stuff we can really use: extra coffee, toilet paper, towels, even toothbrushes ...
We're feeling pretty low on energy and would prefer to stay another day at Big Bear - inspired by Mike, who says he doesn't want to hike the trail as if it were just a job, but rather to have fun, regardless of how far he gets!
Tomorrow we're planning to get back on the trail by afternoon. Beforehand, we need to go to the post office and collect the back-up drives we ordered, then find a computer to copy our film material, wash our clothes, and buy groceries. The next resupply station is Cajon, 144 kilometers away. Since it's mostly downhill, we figure we can average 25 kilometers per day. This means we'll need food for 6-7 days on the trail. Considering the lengthy to-do list, it's tempting to schedule another zero day. On the other hand, our bodies are already losing their new rhythm. And today we were outside too long without sun cream; this wouldn't have happened on the trail. We decide to postpone the decision. And spend the evening in bed with a bottle of sparkling wine, delicious oranges, and leftover pancakes, savoring both the excellent bed and shower. Because the TV seems to be limited to QVC, annoyingly advertising an indestructible metal suitcase decorated with gold ornamentation and waterproof foils to protect vital documents in the event of an emergency, manager Rachel drops by. She fiddles with the TV a bit, replaces the remote control, but can't fix the problem. She suggests switching rooms, but this doesn't appeal to us, given that our belongings are scattered all over the room. But she's most obliging with respect to the computer and laundry issues: tomorrow morning we may use the computer and do laundry in the "Honey Bear" main lodge in the village ... ?
Olli's now sitting in bed, reading by the light of his headlamp (his nighttable lamp is broken). Ants are scurrying around the kitchen area. And why should things be different inside than outside? After all, we need to stay in training.
Pictures