Day 11

​Day 11 z
A Zero day at Julian/Stagecoach campsite

Today was a freaking fun zero day.
I experienced my first hitch hike into town with Dave.
A very sweet Mexican woman gave us a ride on her way to her nanny job interview, when she dropped us off I wished her good luck and gave her some money for a coffee after her interview.
We waited in the town for our new friends Jeremiah and Tom (aka Tom and Jerry I call them when they are together) 
When they arrived we waited until 9am for the famous Mom’s Pies to open to get a free pie slice with ice cream and a drink that they give to pct hikers. It was glorious. I got an apple crumble. I still think about it almost 60 days later...
Then we went to the gear shop and I did some gear changes. I decided on purchasing new hiking poles that extend to different heights and shipped mine home along with my tent poles. The reason for this was that I was carrying trekking poles and tent poles because my trekking poles didn't go to the height that my tent needed during set up. I was carrying extra gear and extra weight I didn't need. After I went into the candy store and spent $20 on magnets and buttons… whoops… 
 
We also checked out the hiker box and got a couple goodies for electrolytes and snacks... Jeremiah got some dehydrated eggs... little concerning on how those will taste. I certainly will not try them Haha.
Then we went to resupply at two of the grocery stores in town and bought enough food to get us to mile 101.

After resupply we went to Fat Anthony’s and got a wonderful tasting sandwich. Great place, and even greater was that a random stranger bought me my sandwich which was incredibly generous of them. 

After town day chores were done (also went to the post office) around 12:30 we worked to get a hitch to stagecoach. 

A pct trail worker gave all four of us a ride to stagecoach and we all immediately went into the pool and showers. 
We spent a good amount of time at the pool deck hanging out with other hikers and socializing. 

I was very nervous at first with getting into the pool because I only have a thong and a sports bra. I didn’t want to be judged or sexualized etc. However, I was wonderfully surprised to not feel either of those. I started to feel a little empowered because I didn’t feel those emotions

Around 3pm we got into our cabin and set up everything 

I also repaired my gaiters that got holes in them from my shoes wrecking and I asked Tom to help me with another gear shakedown. 
Some items from my pack went to a hiker box. Yay! Less weight to carry again.

We also all did our laundry together and dried them on the picnic table by our cabin. 

That’s where the mystery of the lost undies begins...

Somehow we gained a random person’s sock but we lost my $45 pair of merino wool undies! 
I am not sure where they went or how they are missing, but we are chalking it up to the washer stealing them.. sadly I'm down to two pairs of undies now.

While we were resupplying in town we bought wieners and eggs and made that for dinner on a fire because someone in an RV next to us gave us his left over firewood! Talk about trail magic! 

We talked in the cabin till 10 pm. Laughing, telling stories, roasting each other etc :) 

Weirdly I can’t sleep tonight 
Many thoughts in my head are asking why?

My thoughts are maybe I miss the stars and sounds of wildlife?
But also maybe my subconscious can’t fully relax when I’m in a room with people I don’t know. Especially men. They are good people, but my brain is probably on a survivor mode still until I get to know them better. 

I love these new friends I've made, and I haven’t felt uncomfortable once, but my brain is still working through things and not being able to fully relax in a closed 4 wall space with people makes sense.