Olallie Lake Resort to Mount Jefferson view point (26 miles)
‘Pants and trail magic’
I started walking in the coolness of 5:30 this morning. My shorts were still wet from washing in the lake yesterday so I took the slightly unusual step of walking in my underpants and mosquito trousers.
A guy walked passed me:
“Nice pants”.
For a mortifying moment I forgot that ‘pants’ means trousers in America!
A couple of hours later my heart skipped a beat to see a sign for Trail Magic written on a paper plate on the ground.
I followed the path to find a bunch of hikers sitting on deck chairs beside a camper van where a lean long haired man in his 50s was frying food.
“Welcome – I was hoping you’d come,” he greeted me with a cheery smile.
And for the next 30 minutes I sat, chatted and devoured two cheese and egg muffins. I didn’t think I was hungry until I started eating. So good.
I’m struggling to eat my food on the trail so it was such a joy to have something real and tasty. AJ truly is a Trail Angel.
The last 5 miles of today were, as is increasingly the case, a real drudge. My blisters are getting worse and they are getting me down.
As I walked the last few miles I decided I was pushing too hard and that I’d take a day off over the next couple of days. My feet and my mind need rest.
I made it to camp just in time to see the sun set over Mount Jefferson. The sky’s embers move to darkness. I sleeping without my fly sheet so I can see the stars as I drift off.
Trail magic, a day off coming up and a starry night. I’m grateful.
