Hello Everyone,

Well, here I am again laying in my tent sending you all an update on my trek today, Wednesday, April 16. I am laying here listening to the wind howl, though I am fairly sheltered from most of it by the trees that were planted around the orchard. Yes, I made it to the abandoned orchard on 300 Street West, about two miles north of SR138. My total for today was 13.2 miles. I felt good about that since it included some challenging stretches.

Last night at Tumble Inn was one on the nice spots I have camped because of the history and just the good feel there. Someone thought it might be spooky, but it was just the opposite. I really had a very pleasant feel about it in the evening when the sun was just setting and I was walking around picturing it as a place of excitement, especially for kids, a hundred years ago when traveling the Ridge Route was a big adventure.

Even though I placed my tent close to the old stone wall to block the wind, my tent was buffeted most of the night by the strong winds. I have a fairly good backpacking tent, but it’s only as good as the stakes in the ground, so I placed big rocks on them for extra security. The wind is common because wind blows over the ridges, obviously where the road runs.

When I woke this morning with that same tranquil feeling, I glanced up and saw the moon peeking through the arch of the old entrance. Wow, that was an extra bonus and a good way to leave the Tumble Inn. I’ll post a photo.

I started my day on a positive note thinking it was only a short trek to the highest point on the Ridge Route, Liebre Summit. I have to quit doing that because I was wrong again! After one mile, and a long 45 minutes, I was still climbing uphill. I looked in the distance, and to my disappointment, saw that I was still below the area of the road where I stood yesterday just before descending down to Tumble Inn. As it turned out, Liebre Summit, at 4,213′, was three miles away, and had a total overall elevation gain of 1,850′. To top it off, my wind gauge read a constant 12-15 mph, with gust up to 20-25-30 mph. All in my direction. When I finally reached Liebre Summit I noted the monument listed it at 4,213′, and my altimeter read 4,218′. They are both wrong! I think it is more like 9’800′!

From Liebre Summit it was level for about a half mile and then downhill for the next three miles. And I knew this time that there would be no uphill waiting for me at the bottom.

One of the things I love about traveling, especially alone, is that people always seem to approach you more readily. I was stopped twice on that three mile downhill. One was a nice older man, in his eighties, who stopped to ask me about my Wheelie and the Ridge Route. He stopped his car in the middle of the road and asked me to sit with him on the hood of his old car to chat. He was a retired engineer who obviously still liked adventure because he was car camping, which he does several times a year all over the state. He literally car camps because he sleeps on the front passenger seat. He told me his wife of many years did not like to go with him because she doesn’t like to pee behind bushes. Sounds like someone I know. Also told me how to cook Bone Fish, if I every make it back to Mexico. Sorry to go on, but I just love listening to older people because they have experienced so much in life and are usually so wise. I realized I could have spent the whole day listening to him, but had to make it to a camp.

Before I had gone a half mile, a young couple riding uphill on mountain bikes stopped in the middle of the road to talk and take a picture of my Wheelie. Nice couple too. Just meeting people like this makes it all more pleasurable.

I hit SR138, which is known to have hurricane force winds, and found it was actually calmer than on top. Traffic wasn’t too bad, but there is no asphalt shoulder so anytime a car or truck approached, I had to move onto the gravel shoulder. Unfortunately the shoulder was very loose gravel and steep. Thankfully it was only four miles to 300 Street.

But, before I got there, I passed a property that we have passed by hundreds of times with the last 30 plus years and always wondered what it was? It is a group of old buildings, one that looks like a school with a tower, and several smaller buildings. It looked old and always peeked my interest. So it just happens that as I walked by on the other side of the road, I saw a woman walking on the property. Well, I walked all this way and here I am with an opportunity to ask someone what this place is or was? How could I not stop and ask? It turns out she was the owner and has lived there over 25 years. Ironically, she is from Holland. Some of you may not know, I am from Holland. We spoke a little Dutch to each other. Wow! And, I found something Huel Houser might not have known. The site was built by the telephone company in 1915 as a booster for the telephone lines between L.A. and areas north. The main building was for the booster whatever and the smaller buildings were the homes for the workers since it was such an isolated spot. That was interesting, and now I’ll repeat the story of what the place is for the rest of my life with the poor person that is in the car with me.

I continued up north 300 Street (if you are Googling?) and crossed the California Aqueduct. The road is paved for about two miles and then dirt for about a half mile to the orchard where I am now spending the night. By the time I got here the winds, which are normal, had picked up. My gauge indicated continual speeds of about 15 mph, with gusts of 20-25 mph. I picked this spot because the farmers generally plant the drought tolerant trees around the orchards to block the wind. It’s actually amazing that I can hear the wind, yet there is very little wind inside where my tent is located. The wind is less noticeable than last night. I may have two more nights with high winds before I get to Mojave, so I will have to be careful in picking emy next sites.

I gave up reading the amount of calories I have burned on the trek because I don’t think the program takes into account the uphill climbs and just figures miles. All I know is I am burning up those calories and I am starved at night. Tonight I got a junk food treat that I needed and wanted! My friend Dave lives in Lebec, about 15 miles from here, and came to visit me tonight. I ordered a large turkey burger, three chicken breast strips, chicken taco, and two bean and cheese burritos. And a two quart drink (no sugar, have to watch those calories). Wow, just thinking about how satisfying it was makes me hungry again.

Time to turn in and read my book. Service is not that strong here and the further east I go it becomes more desolate and service may get worse. Hopefully I’ll be able to post my trek tomorrow.

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

EDIT

Oh yes, I forgot. Last night I kneeled on my prescription sunglasses and broke them. That was tough today in the bright sun. Lens did not crake and only broke the frame. My friend brought me some crazy glue and I will try and hopefully fix them. All part of the adventure.

Next Post: Day 7