Wednesday, July 18th: Sonora Pass

Wednesday, July 18th: Today's miles = 10.8. Total PCT miles 1,018.3.

Today was the first day that I have ever arrived in a town on my projected eta, on any trail. Today was also the most beautiful day of hiking that I have EVER done. There was something about today that hit me just right. The mountains today were mostly volcanic. The climbs were graded and I was feeling great! Days like today are one of the reasons I hike.

After arriving at the road to Bridgeport I immediately started to get my hitch on. I had heard that this hitch was almost impossible. After about 3 minutes of standing there an Austrian man came up to me and said "would you like a cold beer?". A few minutes later his friend came up to me and said "would you like a cold beer and a ride into Bridgeport?". He was driving a Cruise America Rent a Trailer with his wife and young daughter. Baboon and I jumped in with our packs and sat down at the table of the trailer. Thats when his Austrian wife said "would you like a cold beer?". Baboon and I hung out in the trailer and had a wonderful conversation with this woman. She was quite worldy and truly understand a trek such as the PCT. She had an amazing spirit. After about 20 minutes I saw Typo and Wolverine standing on the side of the highway. They had apparently gotten a hitch halfway to town. Once I said that they were our friends the rent a trailer was immediately halting to a stop. I swung open the trailer door and said "would you boys care for a ride?" They were quite surprised to see me. They too piled into the trailer and were promptly offered beer, cookies, bagel sandwiches, and bananas! So far my Bridgeport experience was pretty damn good!

I wasn't expecting all that much from Bridgeport after what I had read and heard from the hiking community. However, after arriving here I realized that everyone else must be crazy! This town provided me with the best Greek salad I've had on the trail so far (so much for not having any veg options). The bar had decent beer and delicious pizza. The grocery store had everything a hiker could want and the gentleman at the hotel allowed me to talk him down to a reasonable rate for a room (after first quoting me 150 I simply sated that that wasn't going to work for me and walked away with a room for 4 people for 100!).

Shower = check
Laundry = check
Full belly = check