Hello Everyone,

Surprise, I am laying in a bed at the Trails Motel, in beautiful downtown Lone Pine, sending an update on my trek, day 15, Friday, April 25.

Wow, today was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride for me today. As I had mentioned last night as I was writing my update, I heard dogs barking on what sounded like part of the property. I later heard a woman’s voice quite the dogs down. The area where it came from was where I had looked at during the day and everything looked dilapidated and vandalized like all the other buildings. I am not sure if it might have been some squatters (I guess I was too) or somebody that actually lives there. I found out later from a Highway Patrol officer that there are some people living around there. Apparently they are “off the grid”, because there is no power and I never saw any light.

I wasn’t really that worried and went to sleep right after writing my blog, but I did put my gun next to my pillow. I woke up about midnight to the sound the wind blowing a piece metal roofing that was hanging over the edge of the roof. It startled me and I never really slept well the rest of the night. I woke at five and found myself wanting to get going and out of there as soon as possible and started my trek at 6:20. It was so fast getting the tent packed without stakes and not having to deal with dirt. I wish I could get going that quick every morning.

I put on another layer of duct tape on my right heel and I think I am around 6’2-3″ now, instead of my normal 6’1″. If I keep adding more duct tape, I’ll be 6’4″ soon. Only trouble is, I now walk at an angle to my left. It’s also the angle that the shoulder usually slopes to too, and now I am really of balance. Well, maybe?

It was a little on the cool side this morning as there were clouds on the horizon, but there was no wind. I couldn’t get my iPhone or iPad charged with the solar charger, and I wasn’t sure I could send out my blog tonight. I also couldn’t take any pictures. The sun kept trying to peak out and my phone kept pinging as it was getting a partial charge. I kept hoping the sun would come out and realized that I had better watch what I wish for since as soon as I hit the highway I was going uphill. Uphill for the next three miles, with an elevation gain of about 700′. It was about 60 degrees, the coldest it’s been during the day on my trek but good for uphills. I went about five miles in two hours. I started so early I figured I’d make it past Olancha and maybe half way to Lone Pine.

But, here go the buts. The wind started to pick up a little, and a little more, and then a lot more. The winds, the winds. Within a half hour the winds were at a steady 20-25 mph, with gusts up to 35-40 mph by my gauge. At first it was blowing directly at me and I felt I was going uphill when on level road. Then it changed to the side and then the back. I looked like a drunk because the wind actually pushed me sideways off balance. The only thing that keep me stable was holding onto the Wheelie handles. Oh yes, and to add to this, my heel had felt pretty good until the time the winds started and I was limping again. Between the wind pushing me around, and me limping with my right foot,  I could have been arrested or cited for making fun of a disabled person if a hard nosed cop had seem me. Yes, there is actually a law against impersonating or making fun of a handicapped or disabled person, which I learned when I was a police officer.

I had to go to the bathroom but the wind was blowing so hard in every direction that I didn’t know which way to turn. So, picture me standing on the shoulder waiting for traffic to pass, and then I am turning in a almost complete circle trying to place my back to the wind, and I am limping on my left foot, and the wind is literally pushing me around. It wasn’t a pretty sight! Yes, I admit, I might have missed a little.

It was really a challenge walking in the winds and then it started to rain. The rain clouds were more towards the mountains, but it was raining horizontally. Thankfully I have a great North Face Gortex jacket that kept me dry. Though it never really rained enough to soak anything. The brim on my straw hat was either straight back like a hillbilly or glued flat to my face. I tried my baseball cap for two seconds until it blew off. I managed to turn my head at an angle to keep it out of my face.

I finally made it to the outskirts of Olancha and decided that I was beat from fighting the wind and rain. It was 11:30 and originally I had planned to go another 3-4 hours so I could easily make it to Lone Pine the next day. But I would have to camp somewhere in between, and with these winds it would be almost possible to set up a tent, or if I could even find a spot sheltered enough?

There are two real motels in Olancha that I have passed by hundreds of times and always wondered who would stay there? We call them both the Bates Motels and I was so beat that I started thinking they might be the Hiltons for me right now. I walked past the first one, The Rustic Motel. Sign on the ground and no cars in the dirt driveway and parking lot was not a good sign. I passed that one. Then there is the Ranch Motel, but that was a bit further, and if I went that far, I’d have to take it. I was told the Olancha RV Park has a few rooms to rent, so I went there.

By the time I got to the Olancha RV Park I was feeling a little chilled. I had on a t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, rain jacket, and shorts, and never really felt cold. The temp was about 59-60 and it think with the wind chill, it cooled me down more than I thought. The office was closed and I sat there for a while until the manager walked over. I felt a little weird because I found myself not being able to pronounce my words, like when you are in really cold snowy weather. I didn’t want him to think I was drunk. That told me that I should definitely stop for the day.

The manager showed me the only room he had left because the winds drove many of the campers in motels. It was a nice room, but there is only one restaurant in Olancha and it us over two miles away. I figured if I stay in a motel, I might as well eat out. I also couldn’t really cook in the room. Then he told me that it was suppose to get colder and might even snow, and that the winds might get up to 80 mph for the next two days. Oh well, I’ll have to stay for two nights and eat my food. No, the room was already booked for tomorrow. Sorry.

Wow, I was in a jam. No cab service, another problem. Bates Motel? I found myself so tired I had a hard time thinking of what to do, which means I really need a day or two in a motel to rest. While I was chatting with the nice manager I saw two CHP patrol cars drive by, one with red lights and siren going. Idea! I called the Bishop CHP dispatcher and told her I was a retired CHP and was wondering if she could send one of those units over to talk with me. I told her why and she got my cell number. I was stalling while talking to the manager so I could charge my phone. The CHP officer, Christina, called me back and showed up five minutes later and asked if I needed a ride. I broke down the Wheelie and she helped me load it up. She asked where in Lone Pine I wanted to go and I just said a motel. She picked up her phone and called the man who owns this motel and told him what I needed. We pulled into the motel and she went in with me and introduced me to the owner. She helped me unload and helped put everything into my room. That was nice!

She told me that part of her job was to monitor the wind conditions for possible road closures. She just got back from the monitor at Coso Junction, a few miles south of last night’s camp. The monitor had indicated steady speeds of 20-25 mph, with gust up to 49 mph. While we were in the motel office she got a call from her dispatcher advancing her that the roads would be closed due to the high winds. When the winds are this high the schools are no longer allowed to run their busses, even around town. Glad I made the decision to come here.

Interesting that Christina has been here 25 years, since she graduated the academy. I actually got my transfer to Bishop in 1984 and was offered the resident post she has now. Because the Olympics were hosted in L.A., all transfers were frozen, and because I had just purchased a house in Oxnard, I put my transfer back to Malibu and never had to go up here. If I had, we probably would have worked together and I would have been leading the life she has here now in Lone Pine. She is married and has three kids that loved growing up in a small town.

The first thing I did when I settled in to my room was to take a bath. The water coming off of my legs was literally brown. I took at least a twenty minute shower and then a half hour tub bath. Wow, did that feel great. The motel is about two blocks from all the stores and restaurants and I walked to Mexican for dinner. What a treat! The movie museum, for all the westerns filmed in the area and Alabama Hills, is right next door. I might go see it with Mindee tomorrow when she comes to resupply me.

I realize that fourteen days of walking 214 miles without one day rest is not good, so I plan to stay here two nights. This will hopefully give me some rest and give my feet time to heal too. I didn’t want to travel by car but I have to remind myself that I have to when it is in my best interest. I might leave my gear here Sunday and have Mindee drop me off at Olancha and walk back the 23 miles? Then Monday, I would start to Independence, which is only 15 miles away and would be a good short warmup to get back into my trek.

I feels great to be laying in a bed and I am going to make these two days part of my trek adventure.

Hope to keep you updated tomorrow.

Best to all, and please keep good thoughts, prayers, and blessings, going my way,
Ted

Next Post: Day 16