Yup, the gravitational pull of the town-vortex was strong again today. I did not spend the two hours I intended there…
This morning was icy cold again, and that does not help to get out of camp. After hitting the snooze button repeatedly, I managed to get hiking around 0715. Only six miles to Shelter Cove Resort. As I expected, I found all the other hikers (Peach-man, Free-wheel, Rocket, Bard, Chrome and Red) chilling out on the patio of the restaurant. They’d indeed skipped the 7 PCT miles and thus arrived yesterday evening. I gladly dumped my pack and ordered the breakfast burrito plus pancakes. No half measures; I was hungry.
It was really a beautiful spot, close to the lake-side and I enjoyed not doing anything for quite some time. The sun was shining brightly and everybody was in total chill-out mode. It’s interesting to see how your body responds to the opportunity to not hike. You get so relaxed it’s hard to find motivation to ever get up and out again. Especially with the temptations of food and drinks around. I tried to sort out my blog-posts, but the wifi was just too slow. Instead I called home to chat with mum a bit. Sometime after lunch I got up, walked over to the docks and had a quick dip in the lake to wash the past few days off me.
In the afternoon sun everybody was buying rounds of beers, and I witnessed everybody’s intention of hiking out today decrease by the minute. I laid in the grass with them, got some ice-cream and a cold drink and told myself I’d hike out after finishing both. If I’d be on trail, then at least I wouldn’t have to deal with resisting breakfast at the restaurant tomorrow morning and spending even more time here.
Around 1800, I was the only one leaving Shelter Cove, but I was fine with it. There’s either 85 or 100 miles left to the town of Bend (depending on which highway I’ll use to hitch into town). I’ll have to see how far my food supply will last me before I can make that decision. Preferably I’ll hike towards the farther exit, to get those miles out the way, but If I risk going hungry I’ll get off at the early option. The terrain looks real flat for the next 40 or so miles, so I hope I can get some big days in. However when I started hiking out this evening, I felt a nagging strain at the bottom of my right shin. This probably originated from hiking fast downhill this morning in the cold, when my body was not properly warmed up yet. Hopefully the nights sleep will ease it somewhat.
I’m lost at sea
The radio is jammed, I bet they won’t find me
I swear it’s for the best,
and then your frequency is pulling me in closer,
till I’m home
And I’ve been up for days
I’ve finally lost my mind, and then I lost my way
I’m blistered but I’m better
and I’m home
I will grow
There’s things that I would give it up
I know
But I won’t let this get me
I will fight
You live the life you’re given with the storms outside
Some days all I do is watch the sky
Watch the Sky – Something Corporate
