Day 134: Bubbles

(Mile 2313 to 2334, Sheep Lake = 21 miles)

We have entered a new "bubble".  I don't know if that is what everyone else calls them, but, for us, a bubble is a group of hikers that loosely tend to travel together, leapfrogging each other.

Gumby and I are bubble hoppers.  Ever since our slow start to the trip (which set us at the back of "the herd"), we have been passing through different bubbles of people.  It has been about seven or eight groups of people we have passed through.

It's Trail Magic Tuesday.  For a whole new bubble to enjoy!

And it is not that we are so fast that we've worked our way up in the herd.  On the contrary; we move at about 2.5 miles an hour.  Most hikers are moving at 3 miles an hour these days.  We can do 3's, but not for an entire day.  How are we passing through bubbles?  It is the old tortoise and the hare phenomenon.  We get up earlier, hike later, skip a third of the town stops, and don't take more than one zero at a time.  We are consistent.  If you're not a hare, it's what you have to do to finish.

As we enter a new bubble, we tend to become nostalgic for the old.  Each develops its own personality.  By now, many of these people are choosing to travel together, giving them more distinct characteristics.  And as we pass through, we associate each group with a different place and time of the trip.  Remember these people?  Stories retold.  And these?  More stories.  We enjoy most bubbles, but, of course, click more quickly with some.  And usually, by the time a group begins to grow on us, we lose track of them.  Hence, the nostalgia.

Mt. Rainier.  It seems the farther north we go, the bigger the Cascade mountains get.

White Pass brought a new bubble.  We walked in the store and knew only Problem Bear (who had traveled with Kindergarten Cop for some time.)  But, they are a friendly lot, and we got to know each other a bit relatively quickly.  It's just a little overwhelming at first, not seeing any familiar faces. 

Yesterday, two people from the Sierra City bubble turned up--H-Bomb and Baro.  It was a mini-reunion.  We were thrilled.  H-Bomb is shipping our tent, and we are camped with Baro tonight.  It is amazing how exciting it is to see a familiar face.  Even if you never knew each other that well in the first place.  It is as if the time apart makes the relationship (if you can call it that) stronger.  Especially if they don't know the new bubble, either.

Sunset in the valley outside Mt. Rainier National Park.  Our post-trail magic hike.  Smoke from the burn around Adams fills the air.

. . . Speaking of familiar faces, we had a brief surprise visit from my mate.  He was "passing through" on his way back from Glacier and caught us at Hwy 410 near Mt. Rainier.  Subs, fruit, chips, pop, and chocolate.  And a warm truck to thaw our toes in.  I was thrilled to see him and sad to let him go, especially with both in such a short time span.  (I am notoriously terrible with goodbyes as it is.)  But we will be home in just a couple of weeks.  Wild to think about.  25 miles a day.  No long stops.  If the weather and feet hold, we'll finish by September 27.

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And now, to bed.  There are bubbles to keep up with.