Ridgecrest!

After 4 nights out, we were ready for a town day. Showers, laundry and real food (you know the drill :). We had about 10 miles to get to Walker Pass where Nuts was going to pick us up. With basically no cell service for four days, we kept checking as we were hiking down so we could text him when we arrived. No such luck. Got to the road and ...no service. And Ridgecrest is about 23 miles away. While pondering our choices, a car came down the road and I jumped up and stuck my thumb out. And by jove, that very first truck stopped. The sign of a good day to come! A really great couple (and their big airdale, Shrek) loaded us in the back of their truck and gave us a ride down to highway 178 where we could get service.

They were so great and interested in what we were doing because their daughter has mentioned wanting to hike the PCT. Even gave us some water and Gatorade, which after this long dry section, was so welcome!

Nuts was at the intersection to pick us up within 20 minutes and our first stop was the Springhill Marriot, where the price was a little steep, but when they found out we were hiking they knocked $80 off our room! Impressive and unexpected considering we were covered in four days worth of sand and dust. Went to a Mexican restaurant for their lunch buffet, and let's just say...they may have lost money today :) Did our chores, made phone calls and then Nuts came and took us to his house. It just so happens that he is a bit of an expert on the making of homemade ice cream, so we got a sample (aka huge bowl) of key lime ice cream and cookies and cream, made with girl scout thin mint cookies. 

This is Nuts and his wife, Deb. So good to us and the ice cream was top notch!

His knee is much better and he is going to hike with us for awhile tomorrow. Yay!!