Hello Everyone,

Tonight I am back in my tent, my cozy place, sending you an update on my trek, day 21, Thursday, April 31.

I had a good day today and trekked 13.44 miles, and over 300 miles since I started. I am camped in a beautiful green meadow north of Bishop and still in the northern most part of the Owens Valley. The site is on the Old Sherwin Grade Road, about a half mile north of the Paradise exit from 395. It is obviously a cow pasture because it is loaded with meadow muffins, but that is probably one of the reasons why it’s so green. There are two gates here, and both were open, so hopefully I won’t wake to a herd of cows.

I got a very late start this morning because I woke up late and rearranged my whole Wheelie system. I generally don’t sleep well in motels, but being as tired as I am most nights, I have been sleeping great. Getting into the hot creek and then the hot tub at the motel for a half hour probably did me in.

I have been a little concerned about starting up the Sherwin Grade, especially after I weighed the Wheelie fully loaded and realized how much weight I was hauling. I actually had a full size backpack strapped on it to accommodate all the stuff I packed. I went through everything this morning and took out lots of luxury items and basically packed for three nights and four days. No soap, no shampoo, no deodorant (never mind, I’ll kept a little one), one change of underwear, one pair of socks, one pair of shorts with zip up legs, no rain jacket, no extra food, no mini flashlight, one spoon, one cup, one bowl, etc., etc., and no backpack. I had to keep my wool thermals for the coming cold nights at the higher elevations. I estimate that I eliminated fifteen pounds? I left my loaded backpack at the motel to pick up later.

I did take one gallon of water, along with my two 36 oz drink bottles, both of which I easily drank today since it got to 95 degrees. In addition to those two bottles, I drank another 32 oz bottle at the mini market and later someone gave me one on the road. It’s amazing how much I end up drinking, especially on those hot days. I don’t like to carry the weight but don’t want to get caught without enough water. I hope to run across several good stream in the next few days to utilize. I have two different types of water filters, a ceramic bag filter and a sterilizing UV pen that you stir in a container to kill bacteria and viruses.

I started my trek today walking through the second half of Bishop and started the uphill grade right outside the city limits. I stopped to have lunch and spread out my tent door mat so I could sit down and eat. I found that forcing myself to take a long break really gives me a second wind. Just as I started back, the plastic d-ring that attaches the Wheelie handle to the waist strap broke. I had always worried about it since it seemed too flimsy for the stress that is placed on it. Luckily I was able to use a strap as a temporary fix. It was the same strap I used to hold the Wheelie together when the bolt came out.

I had decided to take the alternate route that parallels 395 and the Sherwin Grade, by way of the Old Sherwin Grade Road. It was the original road before the new four lane 395 was built. I had just turned onto the old road at the Rovana exit and stopped for a second to ponder which way to go? A pickup drove by and stopped, and then backed up. The truck pulled onto the shoulder and a woman and man got out. The woman excitedly said that they had seen me on the road a few days back near Olancha and now just had to look at the thing I was pulling. They called me the “Walker.”  As it turns out, she runs a paragliding school and camp in the area. The man is from New Zealand and is at her camp. He is on vacation for six months and had originally started his trip on a bike, like me he said. He ended up with too much stuff (sounds familiar), and it got too heavy, and he switched to a motorcycle. She tried on the Wheelie and thought it might work for her business. She laughingly offered me a ride and told me to camp on her property a few miles away. I really thought about it because it would be another interesting group of people and stories, but it was getting late and two miles in the other direction, so I continued on. It’s just amazing the number of interesting people that I have met on this adventure.

The scenery on this road is really beautiful and such a good choice over 395 and the traffic. I have seen very few cars and hopefully it will be the same tomorrow as I start up the steep and narrow grade. The area is open meadows and fields in the valley and goes through the small residential neighborhoods of Paradise and Swall Meadows. The last part of the road follows Lower Rock Creek before it connects with 395.

I wanted to go a little further tonight but saw this spot and figured I might not find anything as nice as the road starts to climb out of the valley. I set up fairly early and had lots of time just to sit in my chair and enjoy the view, quite, and solitude. There was no wind and I could hear the birds and crickets chirping. Looking out and enjoying the meadow, I came to the realization that I only have three days and two more nights before the end of my trek. Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost over! Yes, there were times when I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue after a hard day, but I never really counted the days to the end. That says a lot.

I have enjoyed most of the places I have been and camped, and now I am coming into the real beautiful places of the Sierras. I can imagine the beautiful sites I’d find if I could continue. I enjoy getting a motel for a hot bath and a real bed, but nothing is more relaxing for me at night than crawling into my sleeping bag, feeling like I am in a little cocoon in my tent, writing my blog, and reading my book until I fall asleep.

Yes, the wind kept me awake and worried many nights, but those are all the memories I’ll remember. I won’t remember the Best Western in Mojave or the Travelodge in Bishop, but I’ll remember the night at Swede’s Cut, Tumble Inn, the Dust Bowl, and all those other interesting places. Waking up in the morning and seeing the sun rise, and even seeing the moon set through the arches at Tumble Inn. And of course, one of the nicest things on this adventure, meeting all those interesting people.

My trek is not over yet, so I had better not relax too much, because I may have the most stressful and challenging part yet to come. Hopefully, the last few days will be the best. Hopefully too, my shoes hold up? They are looking pretty thin.

Hope to update you tomorrow.

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

Ted

Next Post: Day 22