I slept really cold. I had to wake up to put my thermals on in the middle of the night. Hope I didn’t wake anyone. 

We head out around 7am.

 
The bike path leads us to a short road walk and we’re back on the trail. It gradually climbs through short trees and bushes. The clouds continue their light show from yesterday. I look back, the water is far off in the distance. Goodbye Silverwood lake.  

Jonathan hikes while he talks on the phone. He hangs back to take advantage of the good cell service. I walk ahead with Jeff for a few miles. The terrain shifts to golden grassy hills.   

We find a neat camp spot and stop for a break. Jeff looks at his map, we’re only 6 miles from Cajon. That means…. We’re only 6 miles from McDonalds, Del Taco, Subway, Best Western, showers, laundry…. 

Just as Jonathan sits down Jeff and I are rearing to go. Fast food dude! 

A handful of hikers pass by. Jeff shoots off ahead of them. Everyone is walking so fast! A train whistles in the distance. We’re so close! I join the race. 

  
We zip up the switchbacks. The trail hugs a steep ridge. I get to the top and the wind gusts from the west. It feels like sticking your head out of a moving car’s window.

   

  I can see the highway with it’s lines of traffic in the distance. A train crawls through some large rock formations. Sprinkles of rain shock my skin. Must, hike, faster. 

   
 The trail starts to drop towards the pass. The switchbacks fold in on themselves. I look down and Jeff is right below me, I look up and Jonathan is right above me. It feels like Esher made this section and we’re marching in circles, round and round, surrounded by tall golden grass.

   
 The ground finally levels out. The trail leads over a wash and into a small canyon along a stream bed. The hills funnel the wind against us. I fight my way down the trail. 
  

The canyon walls open up to reveal… the freeway!! 

  
We made it to the road! 

 

We walk up the pavement towards the McDonalds. Jonathan and Jeff continue on to Del Taco but I really want a hash brown.

 I feel so awkward walking through the parking lot towards the McDonalds doors. I push them open and the place is full of other hikers. Their trays are piled high with fries and paper wrappings, backpacks stuffed under tables and into booth corners. Maybe I’m not so out of place after all. 

I get in line to order. The menu is overwhelming. I want everything. I end up getting a breakfast combo, and a big mac combo. It doesn’t last longer than 5 minutes. So good. 

  
I wonder what it must be like to work here with each thru hiker ordering half the menu. I watch a French Canadian hiker down 4 orders of chicken nuggets, 2 burgers and a mcflury.

I catch up with a few hikers I recognize then head out to find Jeff and Jonathan. The DelTaco is on the other side of the freeway… and there’s no sidewalk on the overpass. I carefully walk as fast as I can. The railing is uncomfortably low. The wind doesn’t help. Cars fly by. Road walking is not fun. 

I get across and find Jeff and Jonathan sitting with two other hikers, Green Bean and Tatter Tot. We’re all planning on staying at the Best Western for the night. Doug was amazing and called ahead to get me a room! Best person ever!

We head over around check in time. I’m so excited when I walk into the hotel room! It’s just a Best Western but everything feels so luxurious, the bed, the two chairs. I spend the rest of the evening painting, splitting a load of laundry, cleaning myself and all my gear. 

Doug is joining me for the weekend and I’m so excited! I can’t wait to see him!!!

I hangout in the OCBoy’s room. We watch Hey Arnold while I look at maps and wait for Doug to arrive.

‘Camped’ at the Best Western near mile 341.87 of the PCT

Miles hiked today: 13.31