Well, it finally happened! An encounter with bears. Read our six most recent blog entries to catch up on our journey. It's been pretty emotional as we get closer and closer to the finish line!
10-11-06
Start: Foresthill, CA
Destination: Auburn, CA
Elevation: 1236 ft.
Miles: 17.0
Weather: Hot, sunny
We've hiked over 4,000 miles, through 12 states over a little more than 8 months, and we've camped a lot. And we've camped in many strange places. But last night was the first time we were asked to move. We were asked very nicely by a police officer who had concerned callers about some "campers" in the park. We were much quieter than the kids that were there earlier throwing stones, cracking beers and swearing at each other, but I guess our little tent looked suspicious. I guess I can't blame them - they don't know us or our story. So after 2 hours of good, sound sleep, we literally picked the tent up with our sleeping bags still in it, and scooted it towards a darker spot in the back of the park where no one could see us. Note for next time - setting the tent up in the park gazebo is a bad idea! It's pretty funny how we've just given up on trying to be stealthy. We figure if someone doesn't want us there, better to make it obvious that we are there so we have a chance to explain before we startle them. I'd rather have someone say, "there's a tent across the road," instead of, "what the heck is that weird light behind those trees - grab the shotgun, Bob!" So we just set up with an open invite to wake us up and ask what in the world we're doing. It's all part of the adventure.
We slept great after that. This morning we got up and hiked all day. Once in Auburn, we stopped in at a maintenance shop to ask a few questions. We met Dave. What a guy! He drove us to the Post Office so we could get our package before they closed, and when we got back in his truck, he extended an offer we couldn't refuse: a guest bedroom, spaghetti dinner, a shower, and laundry. That about takes care of everything we needed to do! So we went home with him and met his wife, Shaun, and his daughter. We watched some TV and even got some cool stories about movies that were shot here. We walked over California's highest bridge (750 feet, I believe), and that is shown in the beginning of "XXX" - Vin Deisel drives a Corvette off of it. Dave popped the movie in and showed us the scene. It was really cool! Then we learned that the movie "Phenomenon" was shot in Old Auburn. I love that movie! One of Dave's old trucks was shown in it a few times, and he was a stand-in for quite a few scenes. Shaun was an extra, and could be seen for just a split second in the final movie. They put that in and showed us a few bits of it, too. We'll see more of Old Auburn tomorrow, so we'll be able to put that together, too.
Dave invited us to his early Lion's Club meeting tomorrow as guests, and he's going to get us breakfast, so that's really cool. Maybe we'll get a chance to tell the group about the hike and our efforts to raise awareness and funds for BMD! :)
We have to get up a hair earlier than usual, so I'm going to get to bed. I thought a lot about all our family and friends back home - Phillips, Oshkosh, places in between... We're fighting several emotions right now being so close to the end. It's even hard to type that... wow. Weird.
I always say good-night when I write these because it's the end of our day. A lot of you probably read this in the morning, so to be different, good morning! Wish I was there drinking coffee with ya'! :)
Sorry - Comments are disabled.