At first light I wake up to the dull throb of shin pain.    Sitting still is uncomfortable.  When I start walking on it there is going to be a pain-party.  

My plan was to get to 566 and hitch to Tehachapi.   That’s what most of us wanted to do.   Instead I’m going to aim for 558 and catch the early alternate.   I don’t think I’m going to make it much further.  

The trail follows the several ridge lines in a gradual and, for me, painful downhill grade.    Eventually I run into a monster wind farm that seems to go on forever.  

I reach Willow Springs road, happy to just be able to still walk.   I run into a German couple who are trying to catch a ride too.   We try calling some folks listed on the trail angel paper posted at the exit do not have much luck.   

We give up on this angle and head to the road.   Johan lays out the strategy.   His GF Anna on the road with her thumb out while we, the male portion of the group, sit on a rock.   When a car pulls over we join her and the driver gets a 3 for 1 deal.    Sounds good to me.   Within 5 minutes, some unlucky motorist is driving our smelly asses to town.   Thanks Anna.   

When I load my pack in the car I realize that I forgot to turn on my footpath tracing today.   I’m really off my game.   Hopefully Alice is not freaking out.    I flip it on and jump in for the ride to town.    All I want to do is find a cafe and sit there all day.

Once in town I ring Alice and arrange a pick-up.   I need to get off the trail for a while and get this leg working properly again.    She arrives around 2ish and we head back.   Funny enough, the route takes us through Green valley and find a couple of PCTer’s trying to hitch to Casa De Luna.   We pull over and give them a lift.   

After X-Rays and various examinations it seems to be some muscle tear.   Folks are telling me I could be out of action for several weeks.    I’m shooting for 1 week.   If I can get to Kennedy Meadows, I can take another 2 week break while waiting for the snow to melt a little.    

As I’m writing this on Sunday, June 4th, the leg is definitely feeling better.   It is still swollen but that is going down little by little.  I’ve spent 5 days off the trail with my iced leg propped up watching TV.   I’m going crazy. 

So here’s the plan: I’m going to wrap my leg up tomorrow and hit the trail.   I’ll try to hold it together for the last 140 miles to Kennedy Meadows, then work out a ride to Mammoth.   I’ll meet my cousin up there and hang out there for a week or two of healing while wait out the snow melt.   Perhaps we can section some bits while we are there.    Sometime around July 1, I’ll give Kennedy another try.