PHOTO ALBUM

Photobucket Album

DAY 7 - Zero mile day

I'm spending the day with my baby today. Resting up, getting laundry done and nursing the blisters on my heels. I think I am going to have to get a bigger size shoe. The sand on the trail affects our shoes and socks and wears into the skin more so than hiking the AT terrain.

Shirley returns to Louisville in the morning and I'll be northbound again. Canada here I come!
Keep hiking,
Greybeard
p.s. Shirley will be giving me a fund raiser report on Monday.

DAY 6: May 1, '08. 17.5 miles. Total to date 127.1

Shirley got here around 8am and we enjoyed breakfast at the Grill. It was good to see her.

After breakfast she drove me to Lost Valley Rd and I slackpacked south back to Warner Springs. Lost Valley Rd is a Boy Scout road. It is a dirt road that winds up to 4,170 ft elevation. I carried a daypack with water and 4 McDonald breakfast sandwiches to snack on. This southbound section gave me a good taste of higher rocky terrain. I was glad to put the miles away carrying a light weight load.

We met up with "Gator" and had dinner at the authentic Mexican restaurant 8 miles west of Warner Springs. Food was A-plus.

Plan to zero (no hiking) tomorrow.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 5, April 30: Hiked 18.3 miles - To date 109.6

Today was a short day. I hiked into Warner Springs, CA around 1:00pm. Spent the night at the resort with 4 other hikers, Kelly, Annie, Matthew and Glo Worm: great people. I'm waiting for Shirley to show up tomorrow. She has been staying with our long time Air Force friends in Montbello, Clell & Betty.

Everyone has been so geniunely friendly which makes for a great hike.
Keep hiking,
Greybeard

DAY 4 - April 29: 22.3 Miles - TOTAL 91.3

What a great day to hike. I enjoyed my third water cache & believe it or not, managed to order lunch on the trail. We found a menu in the register box* and called a local mexican place. They delivered burritos and iced tea at Highway 52 crossing. Umm good!

I am learning quite a lot about the vegetation. The purple bar tree is Manzanita (sp?) and the scrub oak has very small leaves about 1/2" long. Photos to be added later.

Keep hiking.
Greybeard
*Note: There are registers along the trail where hikers can leave notes, updates, etc. Just another way to log their whereabouts and location in case of emergencies.

DAY 3 - April 28 - 25.4 Miles - TOTAL 69

My right heel is complaining. I thought I took a wrong turn today after dropping into Oriflamme Canyon. Cost me 30 minutes. Walked the highest and steepest ridge to date. It was gorgious (pretty too). I've met several hikers along the way. Keep hiking guys/gals!
Greybeard