I headed over to the camp store the moment I woke up this morning, still craving the soda that we were denied last night. We got in just 20 minutes after the store had closed. Mr. Fantastic was awake when I returned to camp, while the people who had arrived and setup at 5am were still asleep.. city folk.
The 7 miles to the next shelter sang their siren song, and after my breakfast I set out. More comfortable, level(ish) terrain lead me North. Mr. Fantastic caught up just before I finished the 7 miles, and we watched another episode of TRS in the shelter while having a rather large first lunch. I took longer than I had intended, but after an hour break I pushed on to do another 8 miles to the following shelter, already craving second lunch.
A goldilocks trio of bears crossed my path during this stretch of trail. This was made far more interesting by the fact that all 3 of them were hanging out up in the trees. First I came across 2, hiking along and hearing a violent clatter from far above me. I looked to my left to see what looked like a scene out of Planet of the Apes. The bears looked like big gorillas as they quickly and gracefully swung their way down a tree, as if it were a massive curvy firehouse pole. Thankfully they were doing what they do best: running away from me. Who could blame them, I do look pretty beastly at this point. It could also just be the smell. The second bear did the same about 2 miles further up the trail, but by then I was less impressed.
Our second lunch was just as big as the first, and included yet another TRS podcast, this one reviewing Brave. Relaxation was cut short, as we had 6 more miles to go before a mountaintop we planned to find a decent campsite on. There was no shelter, or hut as they're called in the Shenny's, where we needed one this time.
We found a small space beside the trail to call our own for the night, and setup camp before the sun set. Dinner was brief, as our water was pretty low by then. A challenge of camping without a water source nearby.
In the morning we'll break camp and hike to the next spring before enjoying breakfast. It's a shorter day, only about 15 miles, and then we'll meet up with my parents. There are so many plans in the next few days to keep our minds occupied, which is typically a challenge out here. Your body is always busy, but you mind just wanders free. Here's looking forward to all that tomorrow will bring, but most immediately, the sound of a running spring to slake our thirsts.
