Bye bye desert !!

Got a bit of a late start this morning because we wanted to get things a little dryer before packing them up.

Big climb right off the bat, but we had it done by 11, and then it was a long gradual downhill and some flat.  This was the last stretch of desert. Yahoo!!!!!!

Some random photos of the landscape today...

Cool, twisted, burnt tree

Lots of these today. And they smelled great. The most prevalent color of wildflowers seems to be purple and yellow.

Came across these sticks spelling out 'medicine woman'. Not sure what it means but I thought it was cool.

We are at the end of the desert section and we got to walk a few miles beside the Kern River. So pretty and really great to see running water!!!!! Last days to be carrying several pounds of water and my shoulders will be happy about that.

Came to 

And jumped for joy because it means we are heading in to the Sierras!

Unfortunately, Nuts knees are not feeling great, so his wife will be picking him up tomorrow. He still managed to do 21 miles today to get to Kennedy Meadows General Store. It's one of those iconic landmark places on the trail. Every time a hiker wanders in, everyone on the porch cheers.

They allow hikers to camp behind the store so we set up tents and then heard that Grumpy Bears Restaurant and Tavern just down the road, runs a shuttle back and forth. Jumped in on that and finished the day with a good burger/fries and a milkshake. Ah! Tomorrow we are spending here, checking the weather report and formulating a plan for this next snowy section.

Cell service is beyond spotty here, so will update as I can!