Day 4

Saturday 3/24 – Mile 29.8 – 41.5 (total 11.7)

We woke to lightly wet sleeping bags. There’s a variety of reasons for waking up with moisture inside a tent. It could be the close proximity to the creek, not using a rain fly, the dense vegetation we were nestled in, a clear night sky, low wind & high humidity or especially the moisture from our own breath and sweat. No matter, our things weren’t completely soaked and didn’t take too long to dry while we made coffee and protein shakes.

Once we were packed up and filling our water bottles at the stream, we saw a man climb down the cliff side. His name was Campfinder, a middle-aged German fellow who also needed to refill on water.

Later that day we met an older couple Robin and Toby while contemplating a hike down to Cibbets Flat campground for trail magic. We saw a few signs along the trail saying that there was food and drinks from trail angels “Tacos & Beer” and “Sparkle Bunny”. Robin and Toby decided to pass, but we couldn’t resist and made our way a few hundred feet down a 0.8 mile dirt road to Cibbets.

We were greeted by so many friendly people sitting at a wooden picnic table and offered breakfast tacos. Yes please! Fruitbowl, one of the women hosting things reminded me of my mum, Kat, with her warm personality and hippie vibe. If my mother lived in California so close to hiking and mountain life, she’d probably be friends with the same lady!

We filled up on tacos, snacks and beer then continued our hike. It seemed like the last couple miles leading to Burnt Rancheria Campground dragged on but we eventually got there. Bible greeted us and said that there was room for more tents in the area another hiker paid for if we wanted to join. He informed us that the showers were locked but the restrooms were this way, and the restaurant that way. He also suggested trail names for us, Marcel could be Water Boy because he always knows the next water source and if it’s dry or not. Hah! He politely declined because the name has been forever tainted by one of Adam Sandler’s movies. He suggested Tour Guide for me, since I’m always snapping pictures, which was true so I told him I’d think on it. I later decided to veto it. Just didn’t fit.

We walked to Pine House Cafe & Tavern in the near dark for dinner. We sat at a community table with CampFinder and other hikers. There was live music from an older gentlemen on guitar who was trying to get the patrons to have fun, but it came off a little weird or it was a tough crowd. He asked the room for song requests, to which the waitress answered, “Johnny Cash!” He played a version of Ring of Fire I’m not familiar. Anyway, the food was delicious.