Southern California is a completely different hiking experience from what I'm used to. It feels like you never actually leave civilization. You can see a road from almost anywhere on trail. If shit hits the fan, there's bound to be an escape route within an hour hike.

The trail angels are something wonderfully different, too. I stopped in at the Anderson's for a quick hello and finally got my full moon butt photo at la Casa de Luna. Thank you! Onward for a days hike and we make it to Agua Dulce, home of the Saufley's. Before we dropped off our packs, we ran into three more SOBO hikers on loaner bikes! Tuesday night tacos to celebrate Neil's birthday on trail. By the time we made it to Hiker Haven, I was exhausted and couldn't get off the couch. They made it realllll easy, and brought back loaner clothes from the garage so I could shower off the smell.

It's a beautiful thing, all the generous people we meet on the trail. I'm constantly dumbfounded... There are countless people who give back to us hikers. We're not fighting for a cause, saving children or making the world a better place, per se... We are just walking, walking an enormous distance. We are stinky and crude. But still, there seems to be an angel on every corner rooting us along.

Two days further down the road and a hunting family leaves us with all their cold soda, beer and Jack n the Box breakfast sandwiches. I swear, life is good. I guess it isn't that bad being close to town.