Zero day: Julian to Scissors Crossing

Well I didn’t sleep well, but that’s common for me when I share a room. I’m at least feeling rested, so no worries.

Uncle Ben, my dad, and I started off with breakfast at the Julian Cafe. They’re supposed to open at 8 but the manager/server got stuck in road work.

There were a lot of hikers itching to get in and have breakfast, and the place was packed with hikers and day-trippers up from San Diego by 8:45. One family got huffy when they were turned away for trying to bring in their small dog.

It was packed. And it was all being managed by a solo server and a dishwasher. I don’t know how many cooks, but I’m sure it was one.

The food was yummy, though a good 70% of dishes had pork of some sort. I ended up getting a corned beef hash omelette which was really yummy. I liked the home fries, they were super crispy. And a heart shaped biscuit.

After that my dad and uncle Ben left. It was really great to catch up with them. I wish we’d had more time but, you know, that never seems to be the case with anyone.

I wandered around town, got another couple things from 2 Foot Adventures, got some food for resupply, got a slice of pie and ice cream with a cup of cider (free hookup for PCT hikers!), and bummed around until Dana got there.

She and I caught up, she gave me my ice axe, and shared some chocolates and a brownie with chocolate mousse she made. The chocolates were amazing and I shared them with Pamela and Henry when I saw them on the street. The mousse with brownie base was beyond incredible. It was super rich in the way I love chocolate cakes to be.

We went to Rongbranch for some lunch. I got a tri tip sandwich and she got a pulled pork sandwich. My meat was a little cold, but it tasted good.

We went back to Mom’s Pie so Dana could get a slice and Roberta came then. Dana and Roberta got along great, and I love when people I care for get along with each other. We were sitting with Graeme and Cally and Roberta was telling us all stories about her anti MLM work. Cally and Graeme needed to go take care of stuff, so they took off and another gaggle of hikertrash came in and sat with us. I talked with them while Dana and Roberta bonded.

Mom’s was getting ready to close so we all (Dana, Roberta, me) went for a walk at the historic cemetery overlooking town. That was wild. They have headstones from the 1800s that are a single weathered brick. They have headstones from the early 1900s that was planks of wood so worn you can barely make out the year, much less a name.

We went to Julian Beer Company for a drink and so Roberta could get some food (mac and cheese and a bbq beef sandwich). I had their cider-beer hybrid, Roberta had their cherry sour beer, and Dana had tea.

Roberta gave me the rest of the beer from Cibbets, then Dana drove me back to Sicssors Crossing where there was a little trail magic.

Some PCT alumni brought beer, snacks, and fruit to the bridge. Blaze, of Blaze Physio, was there. And one of the trail angels was taking people to town for the night. Cally and Graeme were there, too.

I supplemented the beer selection, and I’m going to yoink some of the snacks in the morning. Now I’m setting up camp next to where I started this weekend to finish this really great, heartwarming circle.

Oh. And I forgot my charger and iPhone cable at Mom’s. So I have to wait until 9 am tomorrow to call them and have them hold it so Roberta can grab it when she joins me later this week. Crud. She leant me a cable in the meantime.

Happy 40th Eddie. I’m proud of me. I got to be surrounded by people who care about me and got to talk on the phone with those who couldn’t be there. It was wonderful to FaceTime with Beth, I just wish she could be here.