10-18-06
Start: Antioch, CA
Destination: Clayton, CA
Elevation: 430 ft.
Miles: 18.9
Weather: Hot, sunny, cloudless, beautiful (again, smiling faces!)
First, I have to tell about the Antioch Bridge we crossed yesterday! It is 1.8 miles long over the San Joaquin River here in CA. It had a narrow shoulder to walk on, but was the only way across, so we got on and trucked across as fast as our legs would carry us - well, except for the pennies mom stopped for, bent over and picked up. Traffic came zooming by, and a highway patrol officer went by twice. I was hoping we were legal walking across the bridge. I was imagining getting arrested or something on the other end. To our surprise, when we got to the other side, there was a sign that read, "Pedestrians, Bicycles PERMITTED!" That's a good thing... I think. It was a scary, scary 1.8 mile hike! Exciting, though! Whew!
We met up with Jen later in the afternoon. She picked us up and took us to KFC for a craving mom and I have been having for fried chicken. Jen is an aplastic anemia survivor, and has a similar story to mine. Well, she has been through 3 ATG treatments AND a bone marrow transplant, so not so much the same as for treatment. But we're the same age, we were diagnosed the same year, we met out husbands the same year, were married the same year... it's pretty strange.
This morning she dropped us back off and we hiked up, down, up, down, up, and back down again through the Black Diamond hills. We got a lot done, too. We did a radio interview, a newspaper interview (the Oshkosh Northwestern), and caught up on a few phone messages. It was a great hiking day, and we really felt like we got somewhere with all we did.
We saw a fox, too. In fact, we sat down for a break, and the thing walked almost right up to us. He didn't really respond to our shouting, "Get a' goin'", and mom blowing her dog whistle. Nothing. I think we woke him from a good sleep. He just looked at us as if to say, "Um, excuse me... you just woke me up. I'm just going to meander by you to get somewhere I can sleep without your giggling and clanking and rustling around." Yeah, like he'd have said that, right? Ah, well... It was kind of neat to see him up so close. We think he wanted mom's corn chips.
After Mr. Fox left, we hiked into Clayton where we took an unplanned scenic tour of the residential area. I think we traveled in and out of every cul de sac. Pretty flowers and great lawns, though! Finally we got directions to the main road where we were able to at least get to the next road on our guide.
Jen picked us up again and brought us back home with her for a second night. She made lasagna, and her neighbor and friend brought over a chocolate pie. Mmmm, mountain climbing food! Mt. Diablo, here we come!
Jen is running the Nike Women's half marathon with Team in Training on Sunday, and she is so excited. We hope that maybe, just maybe, we'll be hiking near where she's running - I'd just LOVE to see her run. Even if only for a passing moment. So our fingers are crossed.
Well, off to bed. Big day tomorrow. Gotta get closer!
Only 9 days 'til the finish!
Sorry - Comments are disabled.