May 8,9: Big Bear Lake

We motored down the trail on Sunday afternoon, 15 miles by 1 pm to Highway 18 where we met up with Meadow Mary and Billy Goat, a hiker/driver support crew who everyone sees everywhere it seems, talked trail for a few minutes and then flagged a ride into Big Bear. It was our first hitching attempt and went off without a hitch (sorry). An elderly woman out on a relaxing drive from Yucca Valley picked us up and dropped us right at the The Sizzler where we gorged ourselves on the all-you-can-eat salad bar for three hours.

Leaving the restaurant we were faced with the ominous task of figuring out just how to actually relax while in town -- while simultaneously getting all of our errands done (a hefty task without a car in a big town, it turns out), finding a place to sleep, and avoiding spending a fortune while we're at it. We ended up going straight to the grocery store, walking dazed and tired with our packs down the aisles, picking out our next week's delicacies. Afterwards, we crossed the lake and made a stealthy retreat from the road into the cover of some woods where we spent the night outdoors once again.

This morning we awoke early. I ran over to a donut shop we had seen yesterday in a shopping plaza, picked up a cup of coffee (something I've enjoyed saving and savoring for my town stops), a Bavarian cream and an apple fritter and ran back to roust Eliza and set about hitting the Post Office and getting back on the trail.

So we flagged a ride across town, hit the PO, and found out to our continued dismay that our bounce box once again failed to arrive at our destination for the week. We'll see if the camera makes it another few days without dying completely. Debating how to get to the trail-head, a guy named Walkabout offered to give us a lift, and if we'd like, stop by his place for showers or anything else . . . well, we're still here, decided to make it a real rest stop and enjoy the hospitality of the trail angels once again.

Casey Kickstep is here, sleeping on the floor in front of me. An Israeli, Guy Smiley, is waiting to use the computer which I've been monopolizing for too long. And I am off to join Eliza for a good night's sleep in a bed for the first time in two and a half weeks.

Amen.

Back to the trail tomorrow . . . should be hitting Wrightwood by Sunday.