Old school meets new school

Day 82, Mile 1344.8 -100.2 by car---Today worked out much better than i planned, or imagined. Did the 3.1 miles this morning in just under an hour. Waited around for Chuck and Tigger past ten. A woman named Frodo who thru hiked last year and is now a trail angel in San Diego was up in Old Station taking over for another trail angel while she is on vacation. Yeah i know, its complicated and it's like they have a network or something. Anyway she was bringing some bikes out to a couple who wanted to do a ride around the fire. She had room on her way back into Quincy so me and a couple (Will and Julia) got a ride while the others waited for Chuck and Tigger. Turned out to be a good move because when i got into Quincy Chuck and Tigger were just getting there around 11 with a load who skipped from Sierra City to Chester and they had yet to go out to Quincy-La porte road. After i did my resupply shopping i was in front of the Safeway and got approached by a guy asking if anyone needed to go to Chester as he was heading that way. He said he could fit 3 so i ran(walked briskly) across the parking lot and got Will and Julia. I thought, this is great, first i don't have to wait for Chuck and Tigger and now i don't have to wait for the 1:15 bus, and it got better. This guy Taro was his name thru-hiked in 95' and so being a hiker himself he knew what we needed. I got a burger and fries and a strawberry-banana shake from the Pine Shake Shack. Took Will and Julia to the market, and got me to a payphone to call mí madre. All that and he had us back on trail by 3:15. He and his dog Pocket walked in about 1.5 miles with us as well before turning back. Just a great guy and a wonderful serendipitous thing. Two rides from two former thru-hikers, got some tips and some reassurances. Oregon looks as though it will go by fast. They both confirmed that i could make up some time through Oregon doing 25-30 mile days and it shouldn't be too taxing. That is of course if the rain stays away. I am camped tonight next to the north fork of the Feather River. A couple, "Ridgewalker "and "Accent," and also "Don't panic "are camped here as well; Julia & Will are just up the hill. We all cooked closer to our tents then i usually like, so as an added precaution i hung my food off the bridge over the water. I am realizing now it is probably not the best idea. If a bear decides to attempt a retrieval from the bridge it could snap the line and there goes all my food, toiletries, and kitchen (pot,stove,fuel etc.) into the river. Yeah, that would be bad. Well "Don't panics "food is right next to him and he is cowboying so maybe that will keep a potential bears' interest. Alright i am up way too late and wrote way too much. Thought of the day; the kindness of strangers makes you feel as though they are not strangers at all. Song of the day; oh something don't know what you've got til its gawn...they paved paradise and put up a paaaarking lot - by you guessed it, i have no clue. Craving of the day; the burger, fries, and shake i had times 2, possibly 3.

JWC on the PCT