Day 37 – 28 Apr 19. Straight Roads and Desert Rain

Today 36.4 km (22.6 mi), Total Distance 849.7 km (528 mi). 9 hours 15 minutes (0740-1210, 1620 – 2035, less time at shop and Hiker Town)

Sorry photos still to come

I slept really well, though still waking up everytime I roll over, which is a lot during the night. I had a leisurely start beign on the trail after 0730.

I knew it was a downhill for the first half of the day and made good time, initially on a dirt vehicletrack down the ridge and then single track switchbacking down to the road. The trail was a little overgrown in places on the way down.

The trail came out at a carpark and then followed parallel to the road for a while before crossing and climbing up a short steep hill. It then went up and down and around hills. I met a guy who was doing a survey for future trail maintenance and two ladies came the opposite way and told us about the beautiful flowers near hiker heaven.

The trail strated climbing and below I could see concentrated patches of orange poppies. At one point there was a young rattlesnake on the trail ahead. It did not rattle and just stayed in the middle of the track. I walked off trail to get around it and on my way again. The trail dropped into a small flat valley and then climbed again. It seemed like from there the trail meandered around the hills, going away from where I needed to be.

When the trail dropped into a sheltered spot out of the wind it was really hot but thankfully this was rare.

Finally the trail turned a corner and the flat plains could be seen. There was a final switchback and then a straight dirt road and I reached the road. On this last part was a continual field of California Poppies and a pretty purple grass. Along this stretch
I caught up to a guy who was looking pretty tired.

At the road I tried hitchhiking but the traffic was moving fast and no one was interested in stopping. I did get one Ute (pickup truck) with trail bikes in the back pull over. I jogged up to it and just before I got near the back it nicely spun the back wheels
causing gravel to kick back up at me before it took off – nice! I waved it off with a gesture that I later found out does not have the same weight here as in New Zealand.

The guy I had passed had continued on to Hiker Town which was just on the other side of the road. He came back and told me there was a shuttle leaving for the store in the next 5 minutes so I gave up on the hitchhiking and joined the group waiting. There was Billy Goat, Sprocket and some new people.

A small van turned up and hikers piled out before we piled in. There are two shops down the road. The shuttle that picked us up was from Weeville Market. The driver was an employee there and they do regular shuttles between the shop and HikerTown. At the shop he showed us where we could put our packs and where to plug in our electronics to charge. We piled in to order hot food. I had

a Cheeseburger, fries and a drink which was really nice. I sat with BillyGoat.

Just as I was finishing my food a lady, Shannon, came up to me and asked if she could have a photo with me. She explained she had been following my blog. We talked for a little bit and she offered to buy some food for me. I am still uncomfortable accepting things from others but agreed to let her buy me a coffee, with thanks.

My plan was to hang out here for several hours. The others from the shuttle, less sprocket headed back to Hiker Town. I sat catching up with the world, and observing a neat baby
Camel Spider, or Sun Spider as a local woman called it.

A little while later Shannon was back with her husband James who had also been following my journey. James had started the PCT but been forced to withdraw and the two of them
were considering section hiking it together. We talked for a while and they offered to give me a ride back to Hiker Town. As I got up to pay James beat me to it and kindly paid for my lunch. Now both of them are officially Trail Angels. It is the first time
I had met people who had been following my journey and I am glad they, and others, are enjoying it along with me.

It is the first time
I had met people who had been following my journey and I am glad they, and others, are enjoying it along with me.

We headed back to Hiker Heaven and I said goodbye to the two of them and their cute dogs. It was nice to meet them.

At Hiker Heaven I headed to where I saw a group of hikers sitting around a table. There were some familiar faces an a few new ones. The conversation was fun and I enjoyed it.
One of the hikers had pulled up the weather forecast and it was looking cool for the rest of the day with a 30% chance of rain in the early hours of the morning.

One of the hikers had pulled up the weather forecast and it was looking cool for the rest of the day with a 30% chance of rain in the early hours of the morning.

I decided I was happy with the temperature and decided to leave earlier than I planned. I filled up my water as there was a long dry stretch and said my goodbyes.

I walked back across the road to touch the sign and then back on trail, through some barbed wire, a gate and what seemed like a farmers field, though covered in poppies and other
flowers. It was really pretty. The trail skirted another field and came out on the road by the farm buildings. Now it was up the road until it ended and up onto the dirt road beside the open part of the Los Angeles Aquaduct. There were several miles on this road and I was entertained by clouds of butterflies. There were also a few pairs of ducks in the Aquaduct.

The wind was coming from my rear quarter so I had a slight tailwind. The sun was hidden behind the clouds and the temperature was lovely.

The trail skirted another field and came out on the road by the farm buildings. Now it was up the road until it ended and up onto the dirt road beside the open part of the Los Angeles Aquaduct. There were several miles on this road and I was entertained by clouds of butterflies. There were also a few pairs of ducks in the Aquaduct.

The wind was coming from my rear quarter so I had a slight tailwind. The sun was hidden behind the clouds and the temperature was lovely.

The trail then crossed a bridge over the Aquaduct, went along a road for a short distance and then onto the big iron pipe that I had seen in so many previous PCT hikers videos.
I thought that I was on this pipe for the next 15 miles but it was only around a mile and a half on the pipe (2km) before the trail went down to the dirt road beside the pipe and followed this for a long time. Because I was doing this in daylight, which is unusual, I had plenty to see. There were big hills in front, heaps of caterpillas, of 3 different types, all over the roads, a family of quail and amazing Joshua Trees to look at. While it was a long straight road I was not bored and quite enjoyed it.

Because I was doing this in daylight, which is unusual, I had plenty to see. There were big hills in front, heaps of caterpillas, of 3 different types, all over the roads, a family of quail and amazing Joshua Trees to look at. While it was a long straight road I was not bored and quite enjoyed it.

At one point I saw what I thought was a person but was expecting it to be a mirage but it wasn’t and I had a good talk with Shiggy. He had also been following my blog. He was doing the PCT for the 5^th time and this time because of the snow was starting at Walker Pass and walking south, to give time for the snow in the Sierras to melt.

After a couple of hours the road turned to the right and was now on a dirt road beside what looked like a concrete road but was actually the aquaduct. Every mile or so was an
inspection platform which was a nice height to rest on. I was amused at some animal tracks over the concrete from when it was still wet. One animal turned back and another went across.

I was amused at some animal tracks over the concrete from when it was still wet. One animal turned back and another went across.

There were lots of Joshua Trees and there were RV/Campervans scattered in the distance. There were even a couple of houses. This section was completely different to what I had
expected. I expected that as it was in the Mojave Desert it would be flat and desolate with nothing to look at. Instead I was finding it interesting.

The sun set and the clouds were filled with colour.

Just as the light was fading it started raining lightly but had stopped by the time I had my umbrella up.

Th wind picked up and as i was starting to get tired I started looking for a campsite. Because of the forecast of possible rain I was going to put up my tent instead of cowboy camping as planned. After 10 minutes looking I found sheltered spot and put my tent up by torchlight.

After dinner I went straight to sleep.

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