May 7, Day 38
After successfully moving into our cabin last night, we experienced yet another surprise: the heating didn't work! Spent the night shivering. Next morning the technician, who happened to be on the premises due to renovations, arrived to fix the problem – which was apparently caused by a previous guest who'd deactivated the heater's temperature sensor!
In compensation for our troubles, one of the managers, Alice, did our laundry free of charge. She also kindly found a computer for us, so we could finally copy our film material (we left Big Bear without accomplishing that goal). As we write this, our data are being copied onto the backup drives (duration: 14 hours). Before leaving Wrightwood tomorrow, we'll need to visit the PO to send one backup to Marylou in NY, and the other to our daughter in Germany. Our stay at Grand Pine Cabin was very pleasant.
Had a thru-hiker sandwich, a Greek quiche, and a croissant at the local bakery, along with coffee.
Looked for new shoes for Olli at the outdoor store "Mountain Hardware." Total cost: $130. Olli's going to sleep on it. This is $50 more than if he ordered through Amazon (he could just have them shipped to wherever we will be). We also signed the Trail Register, and discovered Downhill Mike was also in Wrightwood. We purchased some special hiker food. Sabine the rest at the supermarket and the Wrightwood Market (all purchases totaled $350!! – over $100 more than we normally spend for a week), while Olli kept watch over the backup drives. This time we're relying on freeze-dried meals like beef stroganoff, pasta Roma, spaghetti with meat sauce (at a per-meal cost of $8-$11), protein bars, electrolyte fizzy tablets, and some "pure" chocolate. We're also putting together our own trail mix of cashews, coconut-flavored almonds, dried bananas and pineapple, and M&Ms with caramel filling. Wrightwood is very hiker-friendly!
(Translator's note: This is making me hungry...)
We had dinner at Grizzly's Cafe with Downhill Mike, who's planning a zero day tomorrow. Oh, and Sabine colored her hair – a service Big Bear's Barber Brian did not offer ... Mike’s decided to stop coloring his while he's on the trail. He already knows he's totally gray.
(Translator's note: This is a joke, right?)
Tomorrow we head for Agua Dulce, about 140 kilometers away (a 6 or 7-day hike). Beforehand, we'll have breakfast in town and then go to the PO. Then divide up the food between our two backpacks – which will undoubtedly be jam-packed and heavy as heck! Maybe Trail Angel Rich will give us a lift back to the trail.
(Translator's note: I'm pleased to say I too am back "on the trail" - that is, your trail, Sunshine Sabine and King Olli, happily caught up with your blog entries after my trip to Norway!)
Pictures