Day 15 – 3/28/16
0 miles (again)
226.4 / 236.4 miles total
What a boring and tiring day of doing nothing. And yet, so much all coming together.
We camped at the RV park, which has bathrooms but no real indoor space. So we spent the day moving around town loitering at various businesses. It wasn’t all that cold outside, but very windy and certainly cold when you’re just sitting around not moving.
I got really frustrated when some things on my blogging app stopped working and I spent like 2 hours trying to make it work. Then I gave up and bought a 6-pack.
We holed up in the corner of the laundromat drinking the beer and were excited to find discarded AAA tour books for Northern and Southern California. They turned out to be disappointing reading material.
For dinner, we decided to cook up a box of mac and cheese with a bag of frozen broccoli. We must have looked pretty pathetic, using the bathroom building as a wind break trying to cook on our alcohol stoves. One of the men from the motorcycle group who helped us out with a ride to Rockin’s car yesterday came over while we were eating and said he had a treat for us. Ooo, maybe a snack? Or beer?
Nope, it was a motel room key.
Two of the guys from the motorcycle group had decided to leave early but had already paid for their room that night, and they offered it to us. Holy. Trail. Magic.
We quickly packed up our tents and moved to the motel. I hadn’t even realized how cold it was until we stepped into the warm room. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with the motorcycle group and listening to the live music coming from the room of some guy who apparently lives at the motel, simultaneously singing, playing keyboard and guitar at the same time. Go ahead, take some time to digest all of this.
We also met our first fellow Hayduke hikers tonight! Carrot and Dan hitched in from Hite and are spending the note in town. We chatted briefly and will likely see more of them tomorrow before we leave.
Oh yeah, and somehow Bubs’ new shoes arrived this morning already. They fit terribly.
Motorcycle clubs are awesome! Have some friends in clubs and have hitched with members of a few. In a lot of ways they evoke the spirit of trail community: a cool network of interesting, adventurous folks, and helpful to fellow journeyers. Glad you two got to warm up for a night!
Totally! We feel the same way after hanging out with these guys. Great people!
Oh and yay for Polygamy Porter! Seeing it in stores is always a fun sign that one is the great and beautiful state of Utah!
Cheers!
I love the big smile on Bubs face; I’d be smiling real big if I had candy too. A cure for just about everything. -Sad to hear about the shoes. Maybe you could order a few sizes and just get the free shipping back for those that don’t fit? You’d have to figure out how to print the mailer and get the shipper to tape the box closed. But I know you two are totally resourceful! Best of luck and God speed.
Wow! This is terrible about the shoes! Has Bubs feet heeled from the old ones enough for you to continue?
Good to have Trail Magic anywhere you are!
For blister prevention, I apply liquid bandage and then cover it with thin fabric tape. Works like a charm!
Glad George said you were tenting it that night or the room would have stayed empty. Hope all is going your way!! BTW thanks for the hugs.