Day 21 (May 16, 2021)

Toaster House (Pie Town) to TLC Ranch (16.0 miles)

First of all, the new tent worked great last night. I forgot to get a picture, but will update.

I had pretty much decided last night to continue hiking today despite not getting my resupply boxes and finalized that decision this morning. I had plenty of food available from the extensive hiker box, particularly from a hiker who had gotten off trail before Pie Town and called to say he wouldn’t use his. (I had camped near him at Snow Lake.) It just wasn’t worth it to wait until Monday to see if the boxes were at the Post Office. If they are, they will be sent back when I don’t claim them. If they just haven’t shown up, well....

The only other thing to do was eat some pie before I left, since I arrived as the restaurant was closing last night. I packed up ready to go before a group of us went for their 9:00 opening. I had a Southern peach and tart cherry pie with a scoop of ice cream. The owner also brought coffee for all of us. It was delicious. After I finished I went back to the Toaster House, loaded with water for the 16 mile hike to the next source, and took off.

All road walking on a wide, well maintained dirt road. Not horrible, but not great. The good news was a good pace. Despite the late start, I made the 16 mile point by 4:45.

Not much to say about the hike today. Mostly piñon pine country with some low mountains away from the road. The dirt road was fairly well used, with vehicles about every 20 minutes. Also windy off and on, but mostly a tailwind. The biggest excitement of the day was all the thru hikers I saw. With the large group at the Toaster House, many left today with the same goal. I have gone several days on trail without seeing another hiker, but today saw multiple!

A little about our goal today, a place called TLC Ranch. They have been known for supporting hikers on the CDT in 2019. They provide water, a place to camp, and even cook meals. COVID-19 changed that last year since they have family members with health problems. Very fortunately, several weeks ago they decided to help as they could with limited contact. They have an area they leave water and snacks and allow camping. And if they are here, they cook for the hikers. ‘They’ are Larry and Charity Von Tress. At about 6:00 they rang the dinner bell and we went to an outside table and chairs under some trees. Out came platefuls of ham, smoked ribs, mashed potatoes, and beans. Wow! Ice tea and lemonade to drink. Then a freshly baked pan of cherry and pineapple cobbler. Pinch me. Then they stayed and talked until it was time to set up our tents. What hospitality and.... charity. (Oh yeah, and Larry is a full time FFA teacher as well.) There are good people in this world.

Side note: yes, there was a lot about food today. Yes, I really am hiking too.

P.S. I am now carrying too much food again. Oh well....