Ziggy and The Bear

20 days into the hike we are at mile 210. We would be a lot further along if I had not gotten sick back in Julian, but that's all fine and well, we'll make up for it.

Even just being on the trail this past few weeks I can already see how this type of lifestyle can be addicting. I was aware beforehand, but now actually being on the trail your eyes get opened to this entire long distance hiker community of sorts. Almost a small town feel where everyone knows everyone from some other hike or other. You also realize very quickly that attempting a thru-hike does not make you extreme by any means. There are always people faster than you, have a lighter pack, and far more experienced. We met this one guy Ron or ''ipod'' who has triple crowned two times! That means he thru-hiked the Appalacian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail...TWICE. He has also done tons of other hikes all over the world. And there are tons of people like that on the trail. It's hard feeling like a ''newbie'' at first but 99.9% of the people we've met have been really nice! Which brings me to trail angels Ziggy and The Bear! Talk about nice people!...So yesterday was a ''Nero Day'' which means Michael and I were going to be doing nearly 0 miles. The day before we had almost come down 8,000 feet from the top of Mt. San Jacinto. We only had 9 miles to hike out before we came to trail angles Ziggy and the Bears house. PIECE OF CAKE. Well, it would have been if it wasn't 106+ degrees outside, and if we hadn't been walking in sand. Needless to say by the time we got to Ziggy's we were burning up! They immedietly had us sign in, took a picture for the PCT class yearbook they make, and had us sit down and relax for our epsom salt foot bath. Ziggy explained that dinner was at 6:30 for salad, and icecream and cake were to be served after...but only if we finished the salad! :) She had a few simple easy rules to follow while on there property, but other than that you are welcome to feel right at home and use there internet/computers, sift through hiker boxes, re-supply on food/fuel/misc (with a small donation), wash your clothes/self in the sink, use the port a potty, and relax in the three tents they have for the hikers in there backyard. I'm not sure if that seems like a lot to you, but let me tell you for a hiker that is everything.

It amazes me that these people do this out of the kindness of there hearts! They even moved from there house in Anza to Whitewater to be closer to the PCT! It really goes to show that there are still kind generous people out there and makes you want to be a better person as well.

We stayed the night at Ziggy's and are now currently waiting for hiker Monty to come pick us up. We arranged that we would take Monty's car up to Big Bear where Michael and I need to take a week off trail. His foot is still bothering him, we think it's a strained tendon so rather than hike and make it worse we're going to let it heal for a week and get back on trail from there :)

-Felecia