Slow start today.    Turns out the Twigsy has a rule about hotels.   He wants to stay until they kick him out so he gets his money’s worth.    We didn’t leave for the trail until 11am.  

Ironman dropped us near Callahan’s and we road walked up to the trail head.    I was beginning to lose service on my phone, so I found a comfortable log by the trail to sit down and do some electronic business before hiking.   I had to let folks know that our eclipse meeting was off and had to order flowers for Alice’s birthday on the 11th.    All that took another hour.   

While looking over the Guthook maps of our route, I notice that I got a little recognition from the Optimistic Turtle.   heh.

Today is going to be one of those slow hiking days I think.    Just don’t have my mojo back yet.

Ran into a guy day hiking with his 10 year old son.   He wanted to chat and I didn’t want to hike so we spent 15 minutes together.   He was asking about the trail, the life, etc.    Wanted to know how to trail angel.   He had all sorts of ideas.   I told him to just buy a case of beer and a case of soda, put it in a cooler, and sit by a hot section of the trail.    It is not that complicated. 

My lackluster pace was further impeded by this.

The trail was flooded by these plants which needed picking.   Seemed that every hill climb required a five minute diversion to fill up.   If anyone asked why I was hiking so slow, they need only look at my fingers.   

Not much out here, but at least the trail is wide and well maintained.  

The smoke from nearby fires is getting trapped in the valleys, so what little views available are hard to enjoy. 

Thunder has been rolling the hills all afternoon.   There are some dark clouds heading toward the trail.    Ran into Twigsy and Soho a couple miles before our campsite.   Soho is trying to get service to check the weather.  I told him to look up…it’s going to rain.

Made it to our stopping point around 6.   Just a 10 miles day today.   Twigsy debating going on, but decided to camp with us.   Thunder got closer during dinner, so I dug a little trench around the tent and climbed in before the rain started.