July 2: After my early day, I was up and hiking as the sun was creeping up over the horizon. Lovely morning. I left the cabin and walked through a meadow which wa slovy to look at, but got my shoes soaks with morning dew. It had been quite a while since I encountered morning dew, but then again, it had been quite a while since I had been in terrain like this:
Yup- back in a Forrest! Nice for the feet, walking over pine needles instead of loose rocks. And it made for some fast progress- though progress is never fast enough going into a town! Especially a town where you are going to zero.
The trail went through the very small town of Echo Lake, where you could hitch a ride to Lake Tahoe. After getting my usual into town soda and ice cream, I hung around the picnic tables near the parking area by the boat ramp, looking for people to talk up for rides. Unfortunately, Oakie (not his real name) was there too.
When trying to secure I ride, I try to appear as normal as possible. Oakie was anything but. And even though he was headed back to the trail- not trying to get a ride- he decided he wanted to hang around and talk with me. Although talking doesn't describe what Oakie was doing. He was bouncing around, waving his arms over his head, fencing with an imaginary sword, and pantomime shooting at nonexistent bears. He was speaking in different voices for each character in his stories, building up to a volume just below a screech. And he had the thickest southern/ country accent I'd ever heard. I couldn't imagine what state he grew up in. I wasn't sure if he was drunk, on drugs, or NOT taking his prescribed drugs. Whatever the case, he was hindering my ride getting ability.
Finally, a lady coming out of the store looked over at the commotion and made eye contact with me. Apparently, seeing the look of utter panic in my eyes, she came over and saved me by asking if I needed a ride to Lake Tahoe. Trail angels rock!
So I ended up getting in town in the early afternoon. Which was great. But as I was soon to learn, South Lake Tahoe on July 4th weekend makes Oakie seem like a cake walk!
Peace love and trail magic!
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