Written Friday, 21 May 2021

Hope you like pictures of windmills because that's mostly what I have today.

The overnight winds here weren't as bad as they were on the hill, I'm sure, but it was still breezy and definitely chilly, somewhere in the mid-to-lower 40s.

Fair to middling sleep last night, and I was in no hurry to get up this morning, after yesterday's long hike and knowing I have a short day ahead.

I ate a couple of snacks while under my quilt and finally forced myself to get up and get going a little after 0600.

On the way out, I stopped at a nearby picnic table and snapped a photo of a list of Trail Angels that will pick you up at the trailhead, just in case I can't get a hitch into town.

The hike this morning was mostly eastbound so the rising morning sun was directly in my eyes, and even my shades didn't do a lot for me. I know: call a waaahmbulance.

The Trail took me over some very nice, rolling hills this morning, all dotted with various types of windmills. Early on, there was an information display that gave the history of the Wind Farm project and its explosive growth, how it came to be here (duh, it's the wind), and the great benefits if wind energy.

What the display doesn't say is that the wind farm is expensive, unprofitable, unreliable, and exists only because of government subsidies to the manufacturers and operators. Seriously, if you can't turn a profit with windpiwer here, you can't do it anywhere. And you can't do it here so...

Don't get me started on bird mortality.

Moving on....

The morning went by pretty quickly, squinting into the sun, and after nearly 3 hours, I put the last expensive, unreliable whirling bird killer behind me and started down a long series of switchbacks toward Cameron Road. I can see U.S. Highway 58 too, and it is quite a bit more substantial than I thought it would be. In fact, it looks like an Interstate highway from here.

Hmmmmm. Getting a hitch could be interesting.

Pretty soon, I'm down the hill, and on a paved road (again!). Cameron Road goes about a mile, over a set of railroad tracks, and then parallel to US 58, which is, in fact, a high-speed, restricted access highway. Hitching is not going to be an option.

As soon as I arrive at the trailhead, I phone the first Trail Angel on the list I photographed at camp this morning. Luckily, he picks up on the second ring, says he is happy to help out, and will be here in about 10 minutes! Wow! This is huge help because the town of Tehachapi is 11 miles from the trailhead.

While I wait, I get a chance to talk to Skip, my first AT hiking buddy and mentor on the phone for a few minutes, which is always a treat.

Sure enough, my ride arrives at almost exactly the promised time. He's a former PCT thru-hiker who pops the trunk of his Prius and offers me a Gatorade while I load my bag and trekking poles into the back.

His trail name is "Oblivious," and he is from Fresno. He has been staying in Tehachapi for the last 10-11 days (at his own expense), providing shuttle service for hikers He tells me he has averaged 30 rides a day to and from the Trail, has had as many as 6 hikers in his car at one time, and that I am his last pick-up before heading back to his home and family in Fresno this morning.

Oblivious gives me a quick tour of downtown Tehachapi before dropping me off in front of a local restaurant, Kelcey's where I can get breakfast. We take a quick selfie before he departs for Fresno and I head into Kelcey's for breakfast.

Thank you, Oblivious!

I'm happy to be joined at breakfast by Kathrin, a really good hiker I haven't seen since before the Cajon Pass. Great catch-up conversation while I demokish a couple of breakfast, a pot and a half of coffee, and a piece of coconut cream pie.

As my final task of the day, I drag my gear a couple of blocks down the street to the SureStay by Best Western, where I have a room for the next three nights.

I'll update you on Zero Day activities in another post, but for now I'm safe, dry, and warm in Tehachapi.

Miles hiked today: 8.3 Total miles hiked: 566.5

Sea Otter Fact of the Day: The typical lifespan for male sea otters in the wild is 10-15 years. Females typically live 15-20 years.