Hello Everyone,

Tonight I am camped about seven north of Susanville off of Highway 139. It is a real nice spot about two hundred yards from the road and it is on National Forest land. It was windy at the top of the summit and I dropped down a bit to get out of the wind and found this nice big tree that also will help block the wind I if it picks up again.

I finally made it to and through Susanville and trekked 18.19 miles today. I had been struggling with the heat and figured it would be the same today because I woke up about three last night because I was overheated in my sleeping bag. It was already 71 degrees at three, so I figured it would be another hot morning. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a cool morning because there was cloud cover and therefore my trek started out well.

I found the CHP office just outside of town and decided to stop and pick some more brains on a route. I was also hoping someone there would know where I was going and keep an eye out for me. It never hurts. I met the Captain and he gave me his business card and told me to call if I needed anything. I also filled up the two gallon water bottles there and was offered a donut. Yes, cops do eat donuts once in a while.

I did get some different opinions as to which way to go. Everyone thought that continuing on 395 would be better because it was a more traveled road if something happened. They also felt that 139 was just too steep at the beginning, right out side of town, and then again about thirty mile later. They keep warning me about the steep grade, but I have to realize they don’t really know what I have already trekked, and it’s not about the easiest road, rather about the most interesting. Roger (not Ron, as I noted before) still thought 139 was the nicest because though the shoulders are narrow, there is little traffic and the scenery was beautiful. No one really knew of any water source. Listening to the others had me questioning 139, but I decided I wanted to most interesting and beautiful, and less traffic.

I headed into town and got myself some food and filled up my water bottles with ice. I drank the water there until I felt like I was going to explode, but I struggled so much with thirst the last few days that I wanted to be on the safe side. I also stopped at a Safeway and bought two ice teas, peaches, and apples. I miss fresh fruit and veggies, but they weigh so much. I love going in the stores and pushing around my Wheelie. People get out of my way.

I walked through town and was shocked that the population of Susanville is over 15,000 people. It was your typical quaint older down town, which I always enjoy more than big cities. I finally came to 139 and it looked just like a residential street at first. Then on the outskirts of town it started uphill, just like I expected, but not really that steep. A mile or so later it still wasn’t that bad and it actually leveled off and started downhill. Oh, oh! Those darn downhills, they always mean more uphills! The downhill brought me to a beautiful picturesque valley with a big ranch and acres and acres of green alfalfa. But at the end of the valley was the face of a sheer big mountain, and cut into the side of the mountain I could see that steep uphill road. Yep, they weren’t exaggerating, it looked steep! Hey, steep but not like the grade north of Bishop, and I trekked that.

It was 91 degrees, and I don’t know if it was the caffeine in the two ice teas, or just because I had stopped several times for the different things and wasn’t tired, but I just had energy and a rhythm as I started uphill. As it turned out, I had a total of 2,174′ for the overall elevation gain, and 1,200′ elevation gain in the last three miles to Antelope Summit. It wasn’t easy, but not as bad as I thought because I never ran out of energy. The caffeine? The distractions? I am feeling better today?

Just as I started the last uphill, a CDF, California Division of a Forestry, truck drove by and I flagged it down. I knew that there might be a station half way to Adin and that it was a CDF station. The firefighter confirmed that it was manned and would have water. Great! Then about a half mile from the summit, a man stopped at a turnout and flagged me down. He was in 73 (he told me) and was wearing a marathon shirt. He asked if I needed a ride and I told him no thank you, and by looking at your shirt you would probably know why. He laugh and said I do! He topped off my water, and then his wife showed up, and he offered me food from her groceries. I took a banana and it was great! I could tell he wanted to give me more and I am not so sure his wife did.

He lives about twenty miles further on 139 and told me I could stay at his place. He gave me his card and said to call. He also said there is a campground about forty miles with water, and there are several good drinking water springs at the campground. All my worries about water have been answered on a positive note. And best of all, I think that Highway 139 was definitely the right choice. Once I got to the summit I was amazed how beautiful it is up here and there is very little traffic. With the trees I can camp just about anywhere. I think I have only heard one or two cars go by in the last half hour. Also, the cell towers are at the top of the summit, so the cell service is actually full strength. Maybe as I go in further it might not be as good.

It is so quite now and no wind. Hopefully I don’t oversleep because I won’t hear any traffic. Oh well! I hope to make Adin by Saturday because we found out there is one motel there and Mindee plans to meet me there for two nights and resupply me with food and other supplies. I look forward to having a bath. Oh, and seeing Mindee too of course.

I look forward to seeing what tomorrow brings on this beautiful highway. I will hopefully update my blog if I can get service tomorrow. Please send me positive thoughts and prayers. Please excuse the typos, grammar, spelling, etc.

Ted