May 13, 2025
‘Red line’ mile marker 34.1 to 54.2
Hiked today: 20.1 miles / 32.3 km
Hiked so far: 55.2 miles / 88.8 km (approx: 1.8%)

Last night, we both slept fitfully. The full moon shone like a spotlight, and a strong wind flapped the tent, which threatened to collapse. We woke at 5.30 and set off watching the sun rise in the east, the moon setting in the west.

The trail through this section has not been too hard to follow. Although generally flat, there are sections of loose gravel along dry river beds and others of soft sand where it is hard to get traction. Much of the trail follows dirt roads, the sections that are across the desert floor wind around thorny bushes and cactus, seeming to take us miles in various wrong directions.

Around 1 pm, we stopped at a water tank with a pump and a convenient hose with a tap that made water collection simple. We decided not to take any chances and filtered it just in case some animal had made its way into the tank. Just downhill from the hose was a very inviting patch of muddy grass under the mottled shade of a few small trees. We spread the groundsheet out and laid down, the soft mud giving a lovely cool sensation to our sore backs.

As we were resting,  another hiker came by. He introduced himself as Greystoke and told us that he was attempting to complete all three of the long US trails in one year! He has completed the Appalachian Trail and most of the Pacific Crest Trail and now was hiking the CDT. He will have to hike the Sierra mountain section of the PCT later when the worst of the snow has melted.

He explained that he is doing this marathon effort to raise awareness of the terrible situation in the US, of people being wrongly convicted and incarcerated. He has a friend who has been in prison on death row for 30 years. Greystoke said this man is innocent and yet was convicted and sentenced to death.

After a relaxing hour but no sleep, we filled our water bottles and walked on. It was tough battling a very strong headwind, which threatened to blow us off our feet. We completed the hoped for 20 miles, and stopped when we found a tree that could provide some shelter. Rob made a nice flat bed for us on the dry gravel river bed and built a rock wall to add protection from the wind. My role in this was largely a supervisory one,  pointing out useful rocks for him to carry!

We plan to cowboy camp tonight, which means we will sleep in the open and not risk pitching the tent in the strong wind.