Me 2007-07-11 Old Friends
July 11th, 2007It’s been a fairly pleasant day despite a bad start with confusing directions from the guide book. I was still in my bag at 7am which is the latest for quite a while. Troll, Oblivious and Tiki all left before me but chose to take the guide book’s “alternate route” and I saw them coming, and cursing, up a steep road back to the trail. We walked fairly closely for the rest of the day. A light rain shower really cooled off the air. It was never enough to warrant a jacket but I put my rain cover over Dad’s bag just in case.
I am still finding myself doing a good speed and I didn’t take nearly enough breaks but I started late and finished early-ish. Tomorrow will be a similar distance but with an earlier start I’ll be able to take it easy and be sure my leg is healing.
The four of us and Old Corpus are camped together, talking about movies and sponging off Old Corpus’ experience of the trail in Oregon.
Good news: According to Troll, Dad’s bag isn’t as bad as it looks. They all tried it on and found it to be lighter than they thought. It sure needs a better hip belt, and shoulder straps, and the back is only comfortable because I shoved my 1/2 length z-rest between the bars and my back. Otherwise it’s a dream.
More photos of this day’s journey can be found at Donner Pass to Belden
Distance today: 22.7 miles. Total distance: 1226.5 miles
July 16th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I’m confused – did I miss something about your new pack system? Did it die an untimely death?
July 16th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Craig admired the undoubted style of my 1974 Hallmark pack and wanted to try it. I left it in Truckee for him. In addition to being a fashion statement my pack has the advantage of having three separate main pockets so you can get to your food or jacket without removing everything else. Craig has the distinction of carrying a pack that he himself was carried in when we travelled in Nepal in 1981
This pack has its own web page at My Backpack
July 16th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
well, Denis, next time you see your backpack tell it I’m impressed, both for it’s undoubted trendiness and for it’s longevity
(or Craig, you can tell it on your Dad’s behalf if you get a chance to read your comments, which I’m not counting on)
July 17th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Thanks to a lovely couple that I met at Drakesbad Ranch I am getting some internet time. They’re moving to Wellington in a few weeks and saw the flag on Dad’s pack so we got talking. I’m eating well and will be rolling on towards Old Station tomorrow. from there I will post a real update.
July 17th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I sewed that flag on there in 1976. I’m glad it payed off – eventually!