May 17, 2007

The teeth-chattering bird woke me up at 5:30 a.m. this morning just in time to watch the sky being painted in colors of red, orange and yellow thanks to a glorious sunrise overlooking the valley.  I curled up inside my sleeping bag to watch the event and to capture photo memories.  I began hiking today by 7:00 a.m.  I hiked happily this morning because my husband was meeting me on the trail for our first visit together since April 4th.

My first three miles were a blur.  I knew that Papa Bear had planned trail magic planned and was awaiting Bison Ed and my arrival.  As I was about two miles into my hike, I could hear music blaring.  I looked down and could see Papa Bear's campsite with Stetson and Squirrel Hunter.  As I approached, a sign was engraved in the dirt which read: PB was here. Papa Bear and Stetson were throwing a Frisbee.  Stetson showed me to the chair and invited me to sit down and put my feet up on a cooler topped with a foam cushion.  Ahhhh!  I ate a delicious chewy brownie, a banana, some Cheetos, and drank a liter bottle of strawberry Gatorade.  I tried throwing the Frisbee but my throw and aim was off.  My dog at home wouldn't be too pleased.

I then hiked onward through brushy, dry, and hot rolling hills.  Squirrel Hunter and I hiked together for the last few miles.  We talked about sports...all kinds...tennis (his specialty) basketball, diving, swimming, running, football and the Bengals, etc.  We were at Hiker Town in no time. I lazily hung out in a lounge chair with hens cock-a-doo-a-dooing in rapid fire succession.  Their brown eggs ha been laid and hard boiled for any hungry hiker willing to partake.  Squirrel Hunter decided to try to catch one of the hens, but his efforts fell short.  THAT was an event to watch!  He got them all riled up trying to corner them.

Two ducks flew in and helped themselves to a drink at a bird feeder on the ground.  The ducks hung around with the hikers and the hens.  I met Bruce out on the highway because there's no way he could have found Hiker Town by car.  He introduced himself to everyone except the ducks and hens and we took off.  My 10 mile day was short but eventful thanks mostly to Bruce's visit and all of his accompanying trail magic.  Woo-hoo!