Day 82 & 83: Red Moose or Bust!

(Mile 1170.5 to 1197.5 = 26 miles + hitch, Zero!)

Sunrise from bed!

Well, yesterday we found ourselves 14 miles in by lunch.  We were shocked.  Don't ask, we have no idea how we did it.  We reviewed the maps and the numbers -- there was no mistaking either.  A few shorter breaks, terrain was average ... We stopped asking questions and accepted that we had just kicked some major behind.  And then decided, what the heck, let's push for town tonight!  And so we did.  We hit Sierra City before 7:30 pm and were welcomed into the Red Moose Inn by Margaret and Bob Price.  A hiker insisted on giving us a hitch the last mile, so we rounded out our day at 26 miles.  Our longest yet!  Great encouragement for the big miles planned in Oregon.

We don't catch as many sunrises, but they sure are magical.

What a place, the Red Moose Inn.  Not only is it full of character, coloring books, and secret sewing machines, the two offer free showers and laundry and free camping in their backyard.  They cook breakfast and dinner.  They gave us ice for our feet and spare gallon Ziplocs; fresh towels and accepted our hiker packages.  Use of their laptop for internet and phone for domestic calls.  They fully support thru-hikers.  It is like staying with family.  How people can just open their homes like this to perfect strangers is remarkable to say the least.  And then do it again and again, day after day throughout the hiking season.  Can you imagine?  When they're not doing this, they are gold miners.  Literally.

Has a feel of Grant Wood, I'd say!

It was a wonderful stay.  We couldn't resist a full zero.  Sierra City is what you imagine all mountain towns to be.  One main street with a handful of blocks covered with mining town-looking store fronts, all sandwiched between a ravine and a mountainside.  Quaint and walkable with no stripes down the road ... which somehow lures the woods-savvy hiker to walk IN the road.  We had to remind each other to get out.

PCT hikers love breakfast. And real coffee.

Today was three square meals, laundry, resupply, errands, postcards, icing, and coloring.  It was one of the most relaxing zeros since the Stagecoach nero a few weeks in.  Coloring was the most therapeutic thing I've done all trip.  I was brought back to my childhood, choosing my favorite Crayola crayons and coloring in Precious Moments coloring books.  Testing colors on the front page.  The nine year old in me was very pleased.

Almost halfway! Sierra City. Red Moose Inn.

We head out early tomorrow.  Hilly and hot, covered with poison oak and lurking with rattlers.  Bring it on.

Our first banana slug!  Gumby loved it.