Hello Everyone,

Tonight I am laying on a bed at the Travelodge Motel, in beautiful downtown Bishop, sending you an update on my trek, day 20, Wednesday, April 30.

I had a good day and also trekked 16.40 miles to Bishop in about 7 hours and 26 minutes. I had considered going beyond Bishop and camping north of town, but that would have added another two miles just to get out of town, and at least another two or three to find a spot to camp. That would have been a much long day, and I felt pretty good when I got here, so here I am.

Besides, I will need some extra rest as I start up the Sherman Grade to the Sierras tomorrow. I think it’s at 7,800′ and gets to about 8,000′ before June Lake. Instead of taking 395, I may take the road through Swall Meadows, which runs parallel to 395. I stopped at the Bishop CHP office and asked the advice of an officer there which way he thought was better! He advised Swall Meadows. It is longer but would keep me out of traffic. It’s a narrow road and has lots of switchbacks. If I had been smart, I would have started in June Lake, going downhill at the beginning, instead of uphill at the hardest part at the very end.

I left Big Pine with a few mixed thoughts. It’s a funny little town because it’s like a step sister or brother to Bishop. It has three motels, one restaurant, a small grocery store, and a few gas stations and mini markets. The grocery store was like an old time grocery because it had a little bit of everything, including a butcher shop. It was very nice because the people were really friendly. There was a nice young married couple working both days that I stopped in. High school sweethearts that never left town. Apparently the store is owned by his grandfather and has been their family business for generations. I found it a little difficult to find something healthy on the menu at the restaurant but it appears the truckers and locals love it.

My motel and the manager were wonderful of course. She was out watering the plants this morning and gave me a hung when I left. I told her I would come back one day and see the Bristle Cone Pines. Big Pine is the gateway to the Bristle Cone Pines National Park, which are the oldest living trees on earth. Some are nearly 5,000 years old. They love the elevations above 11,000, which is above most tree lines and where little other vegetation grows. Ok, I am flexing my knowledge muscle, only because the manager loaned me a book about them and it’s fresh in my mind.

I started my trek this morning with a lot of enthusiasm hoping that the road would be all flat and I’d get to Bishop rather quick. Surprisingly, traffic was fairly busy and there seemed to be lots of trucks. I had to push that second imaginary button for my mechanical arm this morning at two guys that yelled out of a pickup truck. I didn’t really let it bother me because that was only the third time during the whole trip that someone was annoying, compared to the hundreds of waves or friendly honks I have gotten. But I like the thought of that second button and mechanical arms in my imagination.

About two miles into the trek I came upon part of the Owens River Channel and saw a older man, maybe in his eighties, at the side of the road fishing. I yelled to him and asked if he caught anything, and he said one. I asked him how big it was, and he spread out his hands to about three feet or more. I laughed to myself and thought, maybe I’ll remember that spot.

Just a little further I noticed what appeared to be the old 395 near the canal. I found a cattle gate that was not locked and was able get to the old road. Wow, was that a find! It was in pretty good condition, other than some sagebrush growing through it, and I was able to walk on it for over eight miles. At first I could see that is was fairly steep in the distance and longer, where as I could see 395 was flat and straight. I had a choice, busy flat straight highway, or steep longer solitary old road. No hesitation, I stayed on the old road.

After the first mile or so, I ran into a barbed wired dead end and I thought the road had stopped. I found another unlocked cattle gate to the side, went around, and was back on the old road again. It was great because at some points I was more than a mile from the new 395. I knew that it would eventually cross Keough Hot Springs Road and the hot creek itself. Mindee use to take the kids there when they were little, while I went fishing. Not a sole or car in sight. The walk was so relaxing.

When I finally came to the hot creek, I actually hesitated for a minute about going in. What was I thinking, who cares when I get to Bishop if I can take a soak in a hot creek. So there I was, soaking and relaxing in the hot creek. I wish I had this at the end of everyday. Funny thing though, the creek is loaded with these tiny little guppy like fish which don’t seem to be afraid of you.

After a good soak, two women in their fifties or sixties had parked their car on the road and were getting ready to leave. They looked at me and I yelled up to them and asked if they could do me a favor. I guess I should have rephrased my request. One yelled back that it depended on what it was, and asked if I was dressed? I asked them if they could just take a picture of me. The other lady said, oh, he’s dressed. They can down and chatted with me and then took some pictures. One lady was originally from Orange County and now lives in Independence and was showing the other woman around. I told them I had just stayed in Independence and had a starving experience in town. The lady from Independence then said, “I bet it was that French place.” I laughed and said yes, and she replied, “it figures.” I was cracking up.

I started down the road again and it wasn’t more than five minutes later that I saw a white pickup come out of a side dirt road. The man stopped and said hello. I noticed he had on a white uniform shirt and arm patches. I asked him what he was doing, and The I had another Huel Houser moment! He was a mosquito abatement manager for Inyo County. Over the years the Mosquitos have been very bad in the Owens Valley, but not as much during these last few drought years. Part of the problem is that the ranchers flood irrigate the pastures, which causes the water to sit for long periods, which propagates the breeding of Mosquitos. I asked him why he was there in such a dry place and his answer was really interesting. He said that he comes to the hot creek to feed those little guppy like fish, Gambusia Affinis, crackers to keep them healthy. Then when he has cattle and horse troughs, tanks, and other places that start breeding Mosquitos, he catches some at the creek and puts them into those places to eat the larvae. The Gambusia Affinis (I love sounding smart) are not native to California and were originally brought here from Africa. Nice guy and I thanked him for my Huel Houser interview.

So, I hit the road again but not before crossing several other little streams running across the road. I made it to Bishop, and as I had mentioned, stopped at the CHP office. It turns out that the officer was the Public Information Officer and I told him how Christa had given me a ride because of the bad weather. He asked for the photos of me and Christa next to the patrol car because he wants to submit them to our CHP magazine.

I felt pretty good by the time I made it to the motel, but as soon as I sat down, I realized that it had been a long day and I was tired. I hope to get a good nights sleep and at least get part of the way up the grade. It will be a challenge.

Hope to update you tomorrow.

Best wishes to all, and please keep sending me your good thoughts, blessings, and prayers,

Ted

Next Post: Day 21