Day 67; Mon July 01 2007

(Dr Bug) It was a very quiet and restful night. I continue to be impressed by Heidis dogs and how well behaved they are on the trail. This was one of the more crowded camp sites we have slept at since Rodriguez Road crossing at the start of the Anza Borrego Desert. When you camp with a group of folks over 50, you can generally expect two things: a little snoring, and some very early risers. As expected, Billy Goat started russling around at about 3am. He was on the trail by 5 am. Which means he gets 6 or 7 hrs of sleep a night. Most hikers get 8 or more.

We were on the trail by 5:40. This was due to our anticipation of the coming day. Today we were going to meet friends in Echo Lake. Shirley and Charlotte are long time friends of Susan's family. Chalotte and Mrs T have known each other since they were 15 yrs old. Along with my brother in Hemet CA, they have been supporting us from the Sacramento area.

The trail around Showers Lake showed that we were already in a higher use area. There were many well established camp sites along the lake and lots or side trails.

I think, as a couple, we are now offically 'spooked' about getting lost on a side trail. We now pause at even well marked junctions, consulting the map, and consider the possibility that even the the most unlikely spur trail could be the PCT. If you can imagine a well rehursed comedy team, debating over unlikely logic, with incorrect results, you've got the picture. But somehow, we progress foreward.

The ten miles we covered today were completely under the canopy of large moss covered pines. We had some rocky scrambles, but generally, this is the most top soil I can remember seeing on this trail. The flowers are still in bloom, however they are less dramatic dotting the forest understory rather than the covered volcanic hillsides of the Sonora and Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.

We ambled in to the Echo Lake Resort area. Two familiar faces sat at the picnic table outside the general store: Helen Wheels and Storm'in Norman. Two of the nicest people we have met on the trail. They call northern England their home. I love their accents and would be pleased just to listen to them read a phone book. But they are wonderful folks to talk to and I'm glad they are having a great trail experience. Just before we arrived a gentleman drove by and offered our british couple the night in his cabin complete with food and beer. It seems his son thru-hiked in a past year and this was his way of giving back. This thoughtful piece of trail magic could not have happened to a nicer couple.

Our personal trail magic was just starting. Shirley and Charlotte arrived in their camping van loaded with big hugs and more fresh fruit than two people could eat in a week.

Our drive, talk and eat-a-thon was followed by lunch at a restaurant Placerville. Five trips to the all-U-can-eat soup and salad bar, and we were back on the road to Sacramento. For some reason hikers have a reputation for an unsatiable hunger and the ladies continued their hospitality by preparing a wonderful home cooked meal. Steak, green beans, sauteed onions, mushrooms and a green salad. Top this off with apple pie al-a-mode and you have two bloated but happy hikers. Add warm showers, fresh clean cotton Hawaiian shirts and real cotton sheets and the day was a thru-hikers dream.