Paige and I woke up with our alarms. We didn’t want to rely on the sunrise because we needed to be packed and gone before park rangers got there.
It’s always nice to have quiet, nice neighbors at your site. And Paige was the best.
She drove me to get breakfast at the lodge and we ate. We saw a really pretty bird outside the window while eating and Seek identified it as a barn swallow.
After breakfast we went to the post service window at the lodge and I picked up my package from Beth. It had my next map and some equipment to clean off the sensor of my camera.
That sensor was so dirty. It felt great to get rid of all the dirt on it.
I repackaged the rest of the stuff that I didn’t need and didn’t want to carry, along with the now-old map and sent it back to Beth. It’s so nice to have her supporting my logistics from afar.
From there I walked over to the minimal shop at the lodge which actually was a fair resupply. I definitely had worse options on trail. So that was a nice surprise. I was able to get everything I think I’ll need until Bend, or at least until another little resort resupply. But I don’t want to rely on those because they’re so freaking expensive and you just don’t know what you’re going to get.
Forrest Gump shouldn’t have said “life is like a box of chocolates.” He should have said “life is a resort resupply.” And not only do you not know what you’re gonna get, it might starve both your body and your bank account.
Paige played doting hostess for a little longer and she and Moonshine and I explored the area a little. Then she took me to the nearby campgrounds that I’d be spending the night. We hung out until maybe 3 in the afternoon, and she had to run to take care of her life.
I’m just really floored that people have the time and space to hang out with a random hiker just because they want to. How special is that? I’m literally just some itinerant who’s walking and vibing and people will put their day on hold just to help me and spend time with me. How often do you get that in a town? How often would you be willing to do that on your own?
I really want to bring that with me. I want to take random time out of my life to spend it with someone I just want to be around for a bit. I want to have the flexibility to do that.
Well, Paige took off and it was just me at the campsite. Back on my own. She’d helped me set up at a nice, big spot. I paid my dues at the front and set up before she left.
Around 5pm, the site attendants told me that I was in a group site and I’d have to move. They moved me next to a site with road noise and lots of people making noise. I was pretty miffed but, you know, the bad comes with the good.
I had a small little campfire to delay the sleepiness after hiker midnight. Texted Beth and a few friends from inside my tent where I had a littler service, then went to bed.
Yes. I can still sleep with a little road noise. Especially after Diamond Lake filled my cup up.