He's aliiiive!

May 22

For a short day into town it sure took a while! Didn't help that I had to go and had given the rest of my TP to Rory thinking I could wait - if I'd had the option later on, I wouldn't have! :D

Anyway, got to the road and walked the 1.5 into town, and checked into the resort which is "hiker-friendly", giving a discounted rate.

Best feeling to get to the room, drop the pack, go back out on the little patio, take off the shoes, and relax in the cool shade. Almost forgot I had to go for a minute or two! :)

Spent the rest of the day enjoying the shower, grabbing a great burger at the golf grill, starting laundry, and then jumping in the huge hot spring pool :) Sooo nice.

Got wind of Josh struggling and yet making a push to make it in that day and began worrying about the guy. News of him getting lost, running out of water in the desert, and night-hiking to get out and here.

Sure enough while a group of five of us hikers were finishing up dinner at the cantina I see the back of a guy and recognize him. Calling out to him, he turns to see us with a mixed look of disbelief, joy, and resentment.

He then proceeds to fill us in with his story of taking a wrong turn, hiking 8 miles off trail, running out of water, coming across a couple of dirt bikers and finding that he wasn't on the PCT, then holding on for dear life while getting a ride on the back of one of their bikes back to trail, battling a huge blister, finding the water cache is empty, sleeping a couple of hours in order to hike at night given he didn't have water and the desire to push to catch up with us b/c he was hating being alone, and whatever else. And then imagine it coming from a great story teller with one heck of a sense of humor, nevermind that he was deliriously tired and just plain happy to see us and be alive! Crazy :)

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Location:Mile 145-ish?