This is Joy. As the hikers are progressing, cell service is getting more sparse and getting into any towns is getting spread out as well. Hence, the delay of any pictures being posted. But, they are making good progress. I believe they got in 15-16 miles on Friday. I did receive a text from them during the day…. kinda a cry for help, lol. Ron asked me if I could find them a place to stay on Saturday night that had a laundry service. 7 days of hiking but 8 days of wearing the same clothes cannot be good! Unfortunately, mountain towns on weekends fill up quickly, so the only place I could find them was a campground (tenting it again), but they do have water, bathrooms and laundry facility.
Today, Saturday, they should have a shorter hiking day. I believe Kendra’s friend Robyn, who lives about an hour or so away, is going to pick them up today at a road crossing and take them into Julian, CA to do some shopping and lunch/supper. Then, they’ll make their way to the campground for the night. This will be the second time that Kendra gets to visit with Robyn in a week – yay! Robyn, if you are reading this, thank you very much for all of your help!!
It looks like Ron and Kendra may have 6-7 more days of hiking before getting into a town where they will actually take a day off from hiking, to rest. This is called a ZERO day. Zero miles of hiking that day! Praying that their needs will be met for the next week — active water sources and Trail Angels!
Have a good weekend everyone!!
Great to read the updates, and loved the photos, even the rattler.
Update: This is Joy, and wanted to share an update. I received several texts, but no phone service where they were at.
Once Ron and Kendra reached the road crossing before noon on Saturday, they were immediately met by a trail angel who offered to drive them the 4.5 miles down the road to the campground. That was so kind of him. After arriving at the campground and getting a shower and doing their laundry, it became very very windy. Ron was concerned about their tents holding up, let alone any possibility of getting any rest. And they wouldn’t be able to get their stoves lit, to cook a supper. Kendra ran to the ranger station right before they closed and found out they did have a cabin available so they upgraded! It’s not a cabin as I think of (lol), but it did get them out of the weather for the night. (no mattresses on the wood bunk beds and no bathroom, but it did have heat/ac and electric plugs, so Ron and Kendra felt is was a huge upgrade!)
While they were trying to figure this all out, they met a nice family who had an RV and were staying in the campground. This family ended up inviting them in for supper, which they accepted, so they got a hot meal and a bed (kinda) on Saturday night. Ron and Kendra were so touched by this family’s generosity. The trail will provide for those in need!!!
Today is Sunday and Robyn will be picking them up at the campground and taking them into Julian to do some shopping and a meal. Julian is about 25 minutes from the campground and Robyn is an hour away in the opposite direction, so again, this is very very nice that Robyn is assisting and Kendra gets to see her roommate from college again!. The hikers don’t need food, but they need to pick up some items at the outfitters there. On the way out of town, Robyn will drop them off at the trailhead, and they’ll start their day.
Hello Joy!
It was so nice to meet Ron and Kendra last night!! We enjoyed having them in for dinner and listening to them. If they need anything while on the trail in California please please reach out to me. We would love to be able to help them more!
Jeff and Katie — its so nice to meet you and THANK YOU for feeding Ron and Kendra. I did not actually speak to them last night, with no cell service, but received multiple texts from them both, saying they had a wonderful experience with you and a delicious meal. It was very kind to reach out to them. I’m excited that Kendra gets to experience all of a long-distance hike with her father (the hiking, the sights and the non-hiking events, as well).
We don’t know what each day will bring for them, but thank you for your future support offerings – I will certainly keep this in mind!
Take care and enjoy your travels. Joy McAdams
So far so good!!
Bucket here – thank you Mary Beth – for checking in on our progress!
Hello to both of you. I hope you are doing well. Becky became grandma this weekend of those twins. They had to take them because Heathers Blood Pressure went too high.. the babies are cute and needless to say they are very happy. always remember that I LOVE< LOVE <LOVE YOU both very much.
Hearing how wonderful trail angels are and how they can turn you day into a great by their caring for the hikers. Each trip I have learned that they are a necessity for you and others to be a success on accomplishing these trips. I hope God rewards them well. I read some of Joy’s reports and looked at pictures.., and said my prayer fol