I wake up at 630. OB and Lydia never showed up last night. I wonder where they are. I bet they’re camped just behind me. I’m second to leave the town of tents even though I take my time packing up.

   
 There’s more poodle dog bush all the way down to the fire station. I fill up on water and wash my socks. Overstock joins me. No one has seen OB and Lydia. Hope they’re doing okay. 

Overstock decides to rest at the fire station for the day. I head out with Tim and Dylan. 

It’s hot, all uphill, sandy and the poodle dog bush is everywhere. I pullout my umbrella for some shade. I find spots of blood. Someone must have gotten a bloody nose.

  
   
I soon fall behind Tim and Dylan. It is super hot. The umbrella makes it hard to see the poodle dog bush. I think it touched one of the tall dead ones 😦  I put it away in my pack. I guess I’ll find out if it touched any in a few days when I get blisters. 

I spend all day looking down at my feet dodging the smelly plant. I’m going so slow. It’s tiring! The trail is super overgrown and it’s hard to see the ankle sized poodle dogs hiding in the grass.  

 There’s very little shade and almost no places to stop for a break.

It’s a long day.

The plants bake in the sun, it’s sticky and closterfobic.   

 I finally get to the Flats campground on top of the hill. It’s only 5 more miles to the next water at the ranger station. I rest for 30 min before I push on. I start out feeling great but the down hill wears me out fast. The poodle dog bush is relentless.

      

I find a clear rock and sit for a break. I’m so tired. Awesome Possum hikes up and pauses to talk. He’s super cool and helps me feel better. We’re only a mile and a half away. I follow him down the trail and eventually loose sight of him. The down hill hurts all my joints. Ouch. The last half mile feels like forever. 

  

I crest a small hill and see the ranger station. What a sight for sore eyes! Or should I say feet. 

  
I hobble down and find Lydia! But no OB.

They did camp just behind me, but they wake up so early they passed me in the morning. A trail angel at the fire station took OB to the doctors to get his foot x rayed. It’s broken and he has to wear a boot for 6 weeks 😦

I’m crest fallen. Poor OB! I hope it mends soon! 

I make dinner with the other hikers at a picknick table. Lydia got me 2 orange sodas from the little store before it closed! Thankyou so much Lydia! 

We relax as the sun sets. Today was tough. I feel like I’m going to wake up covered in poodle dog bush blisters 😦

Camped at mile 436.07 of the PCT.

Miles hiked today: 20.98