Funny to see that on a town-day, everybody all of a sudden manages to get up real early. Myself included. Earliest I’ve been on trail this stretch. Like all others I was excited to wash off the long stretch, and to get a few tasty and hot meals. Since it was all downhill and my food was pretty much gone, it was a super easy and fast 5.5 miles. Before I knew it, I sat down in the Reds Meadows Resort Cafe enjoying a coffee and bagel.
The shuttle to Mammoth Lakes arrived, and a whole bunch of hikers got in, the atmosphere in the bus thick with excitement. All these familiar faces on their way to another new destination; it felt like a school-trip. Mammoth Lakes is a popular vacation spot and ski-resort. We were dropped at a large establishment of ski-gondolas and we’re trying to figure out how to get to the town center, since we were somewhere along the outskirts of town. In the distance another bus was pulling up, with a bunch of hikers hanging out the windows, signalling us to quickly get in. Within seconds the large group of hikers all with their packs on started running towards the bus which was about to leave, quite the sight.
We were dropped off in town and Pops, Jukebox and I went straight to a local diner to get the long awaited big breakfast. It was great. When we got outside we learned we were pretty close to the laundromat, and even though all of us were really craving a shower, it would be great to get that chore out of the way. So we chose to stay dirty a couple hours longer and got our laundry done. While we were waiting, Pops and Jukebox played a game of baseball with 2 local kids, and I made some calls.
We arrived at the hostel in the second half of the afternoon and finally got to shower. We felt refreshed and energized, and after getting my back-logged entries online, we headed out for dinner (did I mention already how town is all about food?). We chose Giovanni’s, a pizza-place and shared the ‘mammoth-size’ pizza. Good times.
After dinner I got my resupply done for tomorrow (the plan has changed to heading out on the PCT again for another 36 miles, and take a bus into Yosemite from Tuolumne Meadows). After resupply we went to the local outfitter. I told myself I would not leave Mammoth Lakes without insoles. At the outfitter I explained my pains, and after thoroughly investigating my feet, and my old shoes, I was told that I’d been hiking in too small shoes, which may be whats causing the pain. I’d hiked 350 miles in my newest pair of Brooks, and was bummed that I’d have to get rid of them already, because I was hoping to get at least another 250 miles out of them. Fortunately they had the exact same pair I’d been wearing on sale with a huge discount, so I got them, and added a pair of supporting insoles. Hopefully the combination will help with the plantar fasciitis. I joined the others who by now had relocated to the Mammoth Brewery, having drinks. After the brewery closed, we went to one of the few other places that would be open till later on a Sunday in Mammoth; the Liberty Bar. Around midnight we returned to the hostel, pretty beat. Tomorrow hitting the trail again, towards Yosemite Valley!
In the night, I see a face that’s in the dark
Through his eyes I see a light a shiny gold.
And this man he walks alone, singing songs of victory
When he sleeps, there’s a struggle and the light begins to fade
Heaven tells the past; all he had, love and fear
He was stronger then, all he had was loving hands
Then one day the thunder struck, evil tears run down his face
And a change good to bad, good to bad
Where to run?
Are you there, are you there?
In the winter sun, he’s dancing in the wind
Where to run?
Are you there, are you there?
In the wilderness look and you will find him
The Piper Song – Gypsy and the Cat
