May 18, 2007

I began my hike today at 6:30 a.m. from Highway 138 near Hiker Town. Bruce drove me to the trailhead and I met him at the Los Angles Aqueduct which was a hop, skip, and a jump up the road.  Lucky for me, I was carrying a light pack because I was heading into the Mojave Desert.  My pack was actually lighter than it should have been.  I forgot to pack my two-liter bottles of Gatorade.  That was not smart.  Typically, I hoard my water all day long and carry way too much.  Today, was the hottest section of the trail and I made a huge mental error.  I carried three liters with me which I consumed carefully as I ambled along the LA Aqueduct.  I could have helped myself to extra water or a swim for that matter, but I was afraid I'd fall in and have no way of getting out sort of like a dog in a backyard pool.

I crossed the aqueduct and walked on top of it as the water then went underground.  I was walking on water just like God, but I couldn't get to it.  I actually found the aqueduct was camouflaged and took a picture of the green/brown painted water tube.  I wonder who had that job?  They did a nice job.  Too bad few people get to see their masterpiece, but I suppose that's the point, isn't it?  Then the water went under concrete for the remainder of my 17 mile hike.  I did see some Joshua trees too, hundreds of them.  I also notice a few hikers' footprints and the design variances.  I want to meet the hiker ahead of me that has a really cool swirly footprint in the sand.

As I was hiking along, a car pulled up alongside me.  Two men wanted to know if I was hiking the PCT and warned me about the Mojave Green rattlesnake and the locals.  They told me that there were a lot of weirdoes around and to be careful.  I laughed.  Am I not a weirdo hiking from Mexico to Canada?  I took a photo of a solar home and a tube that was painted no dumping.  Who would actually dump in or near the LA Aqueduct for God's sake?  Not this hiker.

As I was closing in on my day's mileage, I stumbled upon some In-N-Out garbage.  Now that is not right.  Every single hiker will notice the In-N-Out wrappers and do what I did.  I began fantasizing again about my favorite foods.  I came up with In-N-Out burgers...animal style and Strawberry Gatorade like the ones in my hotel's refrigerator.  I had less than two miles to go and my husband pulled up and honked.  Of course, I noticed him because he was the only thing out there besides hundreds of Joshua trees, sand, and the hot, very hot sun.

As I was sucking down a Gatorade with deep appreciation, Ed hiked up.  Wow!  What a surprise. Bison Ed hiked his Aqueduct section last night when the temperatures were reasonable.  He was catching some shade under a Joshua tree before he began hiking.  So Bruce gave Bison Ed some trail magic...three Gatorades.  Bruce also planted more Gatorades on ice for anyone who stumbled by.  I hiked my last 1.6 miles to the Cottonwood Creek bridge with Bison Ed.  The water spigot was turned off but Ed did get some water at the lean-to.  So...I hiked for hours in the Mojave Desert heat next to and on top of the LA Aqueduct and at the end of my hike the spigot is turned off?  Even though Ed and I walked on water, the angel was the one to provide.  Thanks Bruce!