I’m up early at Redwood Meadow Campground, but sadly I’m not the only one. The couple is out collecting more wood to add to their bonfire, with part of a log sticking out of it, while Site 11 is stomping branches into their fire ring. Caleb was worried that I would wake the others but these campers are motivated to keep their fires going, even during quiet hours.

I’m not the only one who’s been getting used to being ready before the sun so we’re able to leave camp as the sun crests its first hill. We drive out, with Gert and Anouska behind us, to some agreed-upon spot in the middle of the desert along the aqueduct to collect some hikers and leave others to continue on foot towards Cameron where they can hitch into Tehachapi or Mojave. Trailer Park, Rachel, and Lyric will meet us at the cars.

We drive further up to see Ravi, now known as Dobby, the free elf, coming down a hill as he tells us he was looking for our car. He has face paint on and a story to tell, but Josh and Seeker climb out of their shady hiding spot to greet us and enjoy soda and stroopwafles, thanks to Lt. Sparkles and Anouska. Trailer Park wants to check on a package delivery at Hikertown and Rachel is excited to return for the dogs, and both want to show us how hiker-friendly this place is.

Trailer Park negotiates forwarding his soon-to-arrive mail while I throw a volleyball for one of the five dogs on the property, this one being the most social of the group. The place looks like a town out of an old western, which provides hikers with a bed in a box, which is the cherry on top after a shower and laundry, whether by hand or machine. Hikers are an easy bunch to please.

We decided on lunch at Denny’s in Tehachapi as they still serve breakfast in the afternoon and those who walked out of Hikertown did so last night and have built up an appetite. A majority of us ordered the red, white, and blue pancakes (strawberries, whipped cream, and blueberries) and Trailer Park also ordered a burger to make his meal a brunch. We have agreed to stay the night here and hike out tomorrow afternoon.

We are able to get our rooms next to each other at a hotel. Once we’re all cleaned up and clothes hand-washed, I will take Trailer Park and Rachel to Walmart to resupply. Lyric is along for chocolate milk and ice cream (even though the room has no freezer). I set a time limit for Rachel, but it’s Trailer Park, I’m going back inside for, as he’s got a small cake for Caleb’s birthday tomorrow.

Once we’re back in the rooms, I’ll wait for all the necessary repackaging so that the trash can be bagged and the packs one step closer to being ready for tomorrow before deciding on where to spend some time together that isn’t the rooms or in the busted chairs by the pool. I mention the Dog House Saloon but their patio looks like it’s in full sun, so we drive to Savannah’s Old Town Saloon.

The bartender lets us know the pool tables are open but the kitchen is not (they don’t have one), so Gert will take Anouska to P-Dubs Brew Pub so she can eat. We joined them after a few more rounds, enjoyed dinner (while they played arcade games), and instead of bowling thought we’d return to Savannah’s for darts.

Not sure if a timing issue or maybe the owner was on the premises, but this time she was asking for IDs (to make sure we were all 21+), so we returned to the room to sing “Happy Birthday” to Soccer Mom, then had a slice of blue and white cake.