DAY 94: YELLOW JACKETS & MOUNTAIN BIKERS

miles: 26

Things that were stunning today:

The views.
The wildflowers.
The weather.
The wildfires in the distance.
The terrain and how simple it was.

Things that were less than ideal today:

Almost being hit by mountain bikers.
Having headphones in while a mountain biker blazes past only a few inches from my body.
Nearly being sunburned for the first time since the desert.
Being stung by yellow jackets multiple times.

These looked fake.

I couldn't get enough of them...

THIS font. Used to let you know where the water is.

Playing "find the spring!"

Where mountain bikers try and run you over.

I had been feeling ready to get to Belden at this point. Already! I tend to fantasize about the next town prematurely, every day we are on trail. I love being outside, the simplicity of walking, the scenery, the solitude... but I also look forward to a real bed, 4 walls, and a hot meal made of REAL food.

It was interesting how the past few days had just been Ben and I - hiking, camping, roaming, eating lunch. I guess this is the section of exclusive couple-time?

A lot of forest litter and debris around here. Looks like it needs a good sweep.

So dry, crumbly and twiggy - seems to just be asking for a fire.

 By the end of the day we were hard pressed to find a suitable camp spot so we settled on a creepy chunk of dense forest right off of a logging road. But luckily - Smiles and Dr. Slosh caught up! They appeared through the dwindling light of the dark woods and camped with us. What a treat, we hadn't seen anyone for days (it felt like) so we were pleased to have company. Especially in the creep woods.

These guys everywhere. 

Dark trees, still air, humid, eerie.

Walked a while on a road trying to find a spring... I do not like road walking.