May 23rd, 2016
Miles Hiked: 15
Total Miles: 436
Start Location: Campsite Mile 502
End Location: Hikertown Mile 517
End Location GPS: 34.77623, -118.60549
The wind picked up again last night and we found ourselves in a cold wind tunnel. Our breath misted in the breezy morning sunlight as we packed up our tent and other belongings. It warmed a little during the first few hours of the day, but the warmth was obscured within the shades and trees of the ridge walk.
Later we decended to the desert floor and stopped at Hikertown, a quirky place run by Bob, a haphazard and unusual man who was hard to find at first but later came out of the woodwork. I flagged him down and he brought me to the “Post Office”, the building was literally named this, and got our resupply boxes and a care package from my parents (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
There is a small store and cafe 4 miles down the highway and we learned Bob will bring people there to order food and buy beer. I asked Bob if he was going to “town” later and he said to be ready in 30 minutes. When he was ready we met Bob and some other hikers at his van, a dilapidated looking thing where the van door needed to be closed by using a piece of attached rope.
I was going to get into the van and Bon said, “Your seat is over here,” gesturing to the drivers seat. “You have your driver’s license, right?” he asked and I nodded. “Good, here’s the key. Get the food to go and come back quick.”
I turned over the ignition and it barely started. Soon we were going a fast 50 mph in a 55 zone, as the wheel shook and stammered and the van jerked and dragged along the highway. The van clearly was not very stable, but we made it the four miles in one piece. Carolyn and I ordered burritos and fries and a salad and picked up a six pack of cheap Bud Light.
When everyone was ready to go we all hopped back in the van. I put in the key turned the ignition and the engine wouldn’t turn over. I tried a few more times but the darn thing wouldn’t cooperate.
We went inside to see if the store had Bobs number, which they did, but of course Bob wasn’t answering his phone- it’s not really in his character. The nice lady working at the store told us the van had broken down a few times this week already.
Another nice lady noticing our predicament offered to drive us all back to Hikertown, which was really appreciated. I gave back the key to Bob and he told me not to worry about it, but I felt a little bad about him having to go back out and get his van.
Other than those escapades this is a really neat but unusual place. We hike out into the Mojave desert tommorrow. It only sounds hot because, well it is!
From Carolyn’s Journal:
