Tulare County

The one with the codgers, Kennedy Meadows and good times.

📍 Location: Kennedy Meadows
💰 Money: $30 on food.

THE STORY SO FAR:-

💤 5am - Walker Pass Campground - I must admit, I didn’t sleep brilliantly last night as I was parked on a slight slope and kept slipping down the airmat which resulted in my feet scrunched up against the seat. Note to self, park on the flat and swap your head to the other end for tonight! I’m wide awake and would love to just pack up and get going, but I promised to give some hikers a ride into Ridgecrest this morning at 6.30am. Let the “pottering” commence. There is no toilet roll in the pit toilets here, so I take two rolls from the pack of 32 that I purchased yesterday and made my way to the loos. I left one roll in each toilet and then used it myself. These pit toilets seem to be the norm at US campsites. They are relatively clean (much better than UK portaloos!).

🦷 I then brush my teeth and pack up the van slowly. I’m waiting patiently for the hikers and they all join me around 6.25am looking worse than me! That rain last night and the howling wind made for a restless night for us all. They clamber in and then I’m off. I start with the chit chat but none of them are really talking to me. They just see me as a driver and not a hiker which made me a bit sad. They all continued chatting with each other and planning their next move. I drop them at Walmart and say goodbye. One guy said thanks and the rest just walked off. They didn’t offer any compensation for the ride (not that I was expecting any) but it’s just polite to offer. Well, that’s the first group of hikers that I’ve met in over 600 miles that I really didn’t warm too.

🏔️ It’s now nearly 7am. I drive to Motel 6 and Bloom is waiting for me. I then drive to American Inn Suites where I collect Disco Daddy and Miles. This is more like it! The chatter is high and the nerves are kicking in for these three. There is a big black cloud in the mountains and they discuss the weather and waterproof clothes. It’s going to be a challenge, that’s for sure!

👋 We reach Walker Pass and all three hand me $20 each for fuel. I refused to take it, but they insist that I use the money to pay it forward for other hikers (which I will). I hug them all and with a lump in my throat I wave them goodbye. “See you in Kennedy Meadows” I yell as they walk away waving.

🚗 That’s it! Most of my trail family are now on the last section to the famous Kennedy Meadows. I get back in the car. Next stop for me is KM and I’m actually quite excited!

👍 The sky is dark and it’s raining quite hard. My thoughts go to everyone who is on that last section of the trail. I hope they are ok and not too miserable. It’s an hours drive (or 3 days of walking!) from Walker Pass and I’m cruising along at a steady 65mph. It’s not long before I turn off the main interstate and head up into the mountains. I see that my phone has 5G so I pull over and decide to check Facebook. By now, day 40 has been published which tells the world that I’m off trail. I hesitate as I click the Facebook icon. I had this gut wrenching feeling that not only had I let myself down, but also the people who have been following me on this journey. I could feel the disappointment ooze through my fingertips as I tapped the notification tab. Sitting in my car, at the side of the road, the thoughts going through my head were so far away from reality. The comments and messages were so kind and full of admiration of what I had achieved, rather than what I hadn’t achieved. I couldn’t read all of them at first through the tears. I had a good cry and decided that it was time to change gear. I have a week left so let’s make the most of it.

🪨 The mountain pass road is quite spectacular but I can’t stop to take photos as I’m busy dodging rocks on the road. The mini van is screaming at me during some sections and I miss having a manual gear box right now. I’m driving about 25 mph and some guy overtakes me in a Jeep! He must be a local as I soon see his little white car way up on the pass. Switchback after switchback (it’s like being on the trail again!). I see a sign “Kennedy Meadows, 13 miles. Elevation 6742ft. So that’s why my ears are popping!

👋 I’m greeted by a “Welcome To Kennedy Meadows Community Sign” and I see the famous Grumpy Bear Cafe. I pull into the drive and then make my way inside. It’s full of hikers and I scour the place to see if I recognise anyone. I don’t see a soul that I know which is disappointing. Sitting at the bar, on my own, feeling rather deflated I wonder to myself “where do they do the clapping?”. I’m sipping a hot coffee when I see two familiar faces walk through the door. Is that really them? I think to myself? Yes!! I think it is! It’s The Codgers (David and Joe) from YouTube. They have a huge following and before I left the UK I devoured each of their videos to see what the trail was like. They are both retired but blimey, they know how to hike. I didn’t want look like a fan girl so I kept quiet. The place was busy and there were no seats left apart from the two chairs next to me at the bar. They made their way over and sat down next to me, drinking coffee. David said hi and that was my excuse to start a conversation. Wow! They started in early March and had reached Kennedy Meadows before getting off trail for four weeks to let the snow melt in the Sierras. They are hiking out tomorrow. Puzzled I said “do you know where they do the famous clapping in of hikers?”. Joe said “it’s down at the general store, about 2 miles down the road. We are heading down there shortly, when the shuttle arrives. They had 16 people in that shuttle yesterday and it only seats six!”. I had finished my coffee so asked “do you want a ride to the store? I’m heading that way”. They thanked me and we all took the short drive down the road to the general store. I actually have The Codgers in my car! Cool! They also let me take their photo and they are now in my little book.

📸 We arrive at the main store and now I recognise it from all the photos and videos that I’ve seen. This is a very special place and it has a great vibe. I see some people that I know but none of my trail family, until Joey comes around the corner. “Jukebox” he says and gives me a hug. Maddie is here as well which is lovely.

👏 👏 Suddenly our conversation is interrupted but a loud whoop and clapping. I’m guessing that hikers are walking in. Yep, two people that I don’t recognise are waving and taking a bow. People rush to hug them (must be trail family) and it’s just a fantastic atmosphere. This happens throughout the day as hikers make their way to the general store.

🥾 Then I see two familiar bodies coming up the trail. I well up with pride as Amber and Harry (The Royals) are smiling and waving to the huge round of applause that they are greeted with. I run down the steps and give Amber the biggest hug. “Bloody hell, you two have done some miles to get here today!”. Amber was the first to say “49 miles in two days and it was hell. She then showed me photos of a blow down trees that they had to climb with her sticking her fingers up at them!” Lol

🍺 They put their packs down and grabbed a beer. It was so good to see them both. Over the course of the evening more people arrived. People that I had given trail magic too which was great.

😞 We are a bit confused as there is one small group of within our trail family who were ahead of Amber & Harry but had not yet arrived at Kennedy Meadows (and The Royals hadn’t seen them on trail either). That group was Handyman, Charmer, Chill, Kodak and Flamingo. They left the day before the Royals and they are fast hikers so we are all a bit concerned. Where are no they? They should be here by now!!

🌙 It’s now 7.30pm and the youngsters are getting loud as they consume more beers. I say goodnight to Joey, Maddie, The Codgers and The Royals and head to my van. I spend a bit more time sorting out my sleeping kit and I’m parked on a super flat section of the car park. I clean my teeth, put on my Jim jams and snuggle up into my quilt. I propped my phone up and watched a film about Nike and Michael Jordan (Air) and by the time it was over the rowdiness from the general store had also died down. At this angle I can see the moon shining brightly and the stars are intense. I love it. I’m toasty warm and it’s not long before sleep takes over.

Night night and thanks for listening to my rambles.

Signing off.

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