It is nice to sleep in, something I just talked about not being able to do (in a tent), but a luxury when your eyes can’t register sunrise or your body the urgency to gain miles in the desert before the heat arrives. My nose is full of dirty treasure, my ears are waxy, my lips are chapped, my shoulders and chest are rashy, my nails are clean and four broken ones clipped, my legs aren’t dirty, and my feet are sore.

We are in no rush so I lie in bed until my hunger has me choose the Red Rooster Cafe for breakfast. There are two people who don’t know each other but are sharing a table behind Caleb. It sounds like an interview at first as they talk about the railroad and religion. It’s not until the happiness of Canadians with their country comes up do they start to get heated as the man still has family there and wants to know where the lady is getting her information.

I get the rest of my biscuits and gravy, this one with potatoes and veggies, to go. I will definitely be adding peppers and onions next time. We drive to Walker Pass Campground, where it’s 80°F at 10am, in the off chance we see someone in need of a Gatorade, but since we’re not expecting anyone until tomorrow, we just as quickly leave for Ridgecrest. Rachel said she was fine with her cheap bra so we thought we’d look around.

I try on 12 so I can leave with three, figuring one will give me issues since I didn’t put them on under my pack. Sweat-wicking and quick-drying are important factors for anything going near private bits, so I thought antibacterial would be good too, but it seems to be causing the issue. I’ll take some mango-jalapeno jerky with me into a coffee shop so that I can get some writing done before they close at 2pm.

Our room is ready, if we can find the right M door, on base. Caleb feels bad that I didn’t get a bath yesterday, something every hiker wants (to see how gross they are) along with as many ice-cream sandwiches as they can stomach. A maintenance guy comes by first to fix the shower rod that was reported loose by the maid earlier. With that done, I can enjoy my warm bath (tub takes a lot of the heat) and my juice box.

The hard part about being in town, even with a kitchen in your room, is wanting to eat the meals you made months ago when you have fresh and greasy options available. We are spotted by a PCT’er, class of ’85, for Caleb’s shorts, our sandals, and our attention to his dog Doja. Her boyfriend, Snoop, is at home on guard duty while we enjoy garlic waffle fries! Another guy with a dog will ask us about the trail too. I suppose we stand out.

Back in the room, I will write while Caleb does laundry, since he has to go back to the main building, and I don’t want the distraction of sitting in the lobby or going back and forth. I have trouble sleeping and am up an hour later to turn off the back patio light but I can’t find a switch for the front, so Caleb uses the breaker to put us in darkness – the body’s signal for rest.