Hello Everyone,

Well, I made it to Camp 16, strange one at that, about five miles south of Monroe and about four miles north of Junction City.

I trekked 20.25 miles today and went a little further than expected  as I wanted to camp beyond Junction City and had a difficult time finding a camp spot. As you can see I am camp out behind the Harmony Church of God Seventh Day. It’s not in the woods or the most beautiful place, but it will do and I feel safe here.

I started my day on a positive note having had two days of rest and some new equipment. I was a little concerned about my feet and wrapped my blisters well and hoped for the best.

I started to leave and wanted to take a picture of the beautiful neighborhood and asked a young girl walking by and going to the university if she could take a picture of me. Interesting that it turns out she is from Rolling Hills Estates, in the South Bay where I grew up, but also that she lives near my old high school girl friend’s house and knows her family that still lives there. Wow, what a small world.

I actually followed Google directions and this time they turned out fairly good. I walked around the downtown area and then off the main highway and on nice quite backcountry roads.

I have to be careful what I wish because it got hot and was in the high eighties most of the day and hit ninety-one when I got to Junction City. The only saving grace was that there was a slight breeze most of the day.

Ok, today I am sure that I was mistaken for a homeless person. I stopped to take a break just north of Eugene and was sitting on a raised sewer pipe under a bridge and next to the railroad tracks. There is a little short dirt road that comes off of the highway and looks like where trucks turn around. A young man in a pick up stopped about twenty feet away from me and sat there for a few minutes. Then he pulled up and without saying anything handed me a bottle of water. He caught me a little off guard, and I broke my rule of accepting everything people offer me, whether I need it or not, to show them my appreciation for their kindness, and I said no thanks I have some. Darn me, I have to remember there are a lot of nice people out there and I need to acknowledge my gratitude.

There actually appears to be a veterans homeless camping area a few miles back and maybe he thought I was from there? I shaved this morning and had on a clean bright orange t-shirt and new shoes though.

The walk off the main highway was really beautiful and there were very few cars. Unfortunately I had to merge back onto Highway 99 for a few miles before Junction City and it is four lanes and very busy, but luckily it has a wide shoulder. I had planned to bypass Junction City and decided to walk through town so I could eat a regular meal for what may be the last time for a while.

I wanted to get past Junction City and look for a camp spot right outside of town. Unfortunately the area between there and Monroe is all flat farm land and I could not find any place with trees or privacy anywhere to camp. The road is also very narrow and in many places the shoulder is only 1-2′ wide, with a step drop so I couldn’t move over. The other side was similar and I couldn’t walk on the opposite side. When I saw the church I thought it was sanctuary.

The sign says Saturday service, so I figure no one would be here. If there were a number I’d probably call and ask permission to camp here. I set up and hoped no one would chase me off or even notice me since there are just open fields across the street and one side, and some type of fruit tree orchard to other side  and rear. I was a little apprehensive and just settled in hoping for the best. Sure enough, here comes a woman, out of no where, walking her chihuahuas, not one but six of those little buggers. And as she walks by the front of the church one darts to the back where I am at, laying mention less and quiet, and the little bugger starts to bark at me. Next time I know there’s six little buggers all
around my tent barking at me. Was I trapped, unnerved? Yes! Lucky for me I heard her yell at the dogs in Spanish and they left. However, one ran back one more time to bark at me.

I think there is a little house in the orchard and she may just be one of the workers that lives on the ranch. I am sure she saw me but kept talking on her cell phone as she walked away. I can’t wait until I get back into the mountains and National Forest land.

Tomorrow I will pass through Monroe and start climbing up the coastal mountains towards the ocean. It’s about sixty-five miles to the coast from Monroe, so it may take me 3-4 days. There may not be cell service but will try to update my blog tomorrow if I can.

Please keep your positive thoughts and prayers coming my way. Hey, I am at a church. Please excuse the typos, spelling, etc.

Best wishes,
Ted