The morning near Lake Isabella turned into a full on zero as the day went on. Patient Zero and i after escorting our trail angel’s kids to school got milkshakes and sandwiches. I spent the remainder of the day just hanging out at her place. Some people hopped in the lake or kayaked it but my baby cold temperature threshold kept me from doing anything more than dunking in the water.
Later that night Madam Cheesesteak pulled out her tarot cards and started reading. It was a lot of fun seeing her tell stories about us using these cards and of course our spirits that we channeled into them so we could get accurate readings. She didn’t see any problems in mine, she said i got it all figured out so hell yeah at least i got that going for me i guess
We set out at 5am the next morning on a long bus ride back to the trailhead. What a Fool Believes by the brothers doobert played on the radio and i did my best Michael McDonald had a grand ol time. The clouds were aggressive but that didn’t really trouble my four hour nap i took that day. They even aided in the 12 hours of sleep i got that night.
From a slow start i did 16 miles up to a sign showing off memorial day trail magic in honor of a dude named Strider. I thought a lot about sitting that day so it was welcome news.
They made steak tacos for dinner and the alcohol flowed wild and free. That night we gathered around a candle (because forest service people said no campfires) and the music started. Nohawk and another guy (who gave me a capo who works as a bill collector who’s name i forgor i’m sorry) jammed out for hours. I got to hop in for a few songs, we traded dirty songs for a bit and i got to sing Brokedown Palace with Lullaby which was a fantastic moment. They kept going until around 10 i think when we all crashed out.
I awoke to frost on my quilt and a probably busted Sawyer but also coffee, sausage, and eggs. I sat down and played guitar for a good while. Before long i realized it was gonna be another zero. We had a spot of rain and i played guitar up until 9pm and i’m sure there’s some recordings of it out there. Jukebox and i had some proper jams with him on the harmonica which was the first time i did anything like that so that was cool. I started loosely taking requests mostly because people kept shouting em out despite my protests. They also kept complimenting me despite my protests
Nohawk had thru hiked back in 77 i think? He was in one of the first classes out here. This trail magic was in honor of his boy Strider who was a massive man who’s dead now. We heard stories about their gear weight, how the trail was routed back then, about the 40some mile day Strider pulled, and the time a pine needle got into Nohawk’s booty hole. It was a great time and hopefully i can make it back there next year.
I left there this morning on memorial day after pancakes and coffee. They gave me some tequila in thanks for how i played music for a good eight hours yesterday. I’m writing this in the shade about nine very level miles through our last fling with the desert before Kennedy Meadows. In fact it’s been a good hour since i sat down, i should really get a move on if i’m gonna get there before dark
cheesesteak told stories of her mother’s prowess with the tarot. she was showing her skills for hours at casa de luna, it was entertaining and she was quite good. i pulled the ace of swords upright right up front
didn’t make it back to the strider trail magic
the strider trail magic easily top tier trail magic
man i dunno 