Lake Isabella to Joshua tree spring - 11.8 miles

Total - 665

Slow slow slow day until we started hiking later in the day. First we kicked off the day with some delicious breakfast skillets at the same diner we have been hitting for breakfast for the past three days. The chef knew us. When the waitress came back to our table she said that when we walked in he stated that we were ty e breakfast skillet gang. Became a regular within just a few days not to brag. I added a cinnamon roll to my order which was delicious but I quickly hit a wall and made the guys finish it. We then rotted in our motel room as long as possible before check out before we made the trek to the library as this is where the bus was able to pick us up from to bring us to walker pass where we left off. We got a nice little hitch into it by this older woman named Shirley. She drove around like a speed racer Antonelli as she joked and I am the only one that got it lol. She dropped us off at the library which did fool up our plans as we were going to go to grocery outlet bargain market so we did end up having to walk back the 0.8 to grab that and subway. We chilled at the library aka Marc and I scrolled and also watched a YouTube video of a guy making a car out of four e-bikes. We were giggling and gaggling in the library. Then we went to subway where I ordered a foot long and ate one half so I could pack out the other half for dinner as we were getting a late start and I knew I didn’t want to cook late at night. Then we went back to the library and caught the bus at 3. Ninja the guy mentioned yesterday was on the bus which I was far from thrilled about worrying that he was hiking and going to camp next to us. Luckily after the 45 minute bus ride we got off and he didn’t but that didn’t stop him from giving us all fist bumps… it was not as hot around 4 but we had a 6 mile up hill which got me sweating like a pig. Initially my calves were so tight and they cramped causing my feet to kind kinda numb or at least pins and needles. I had to stretch out and that did the trick and then I was flying. We pass mosey again! It’s so fun to be leap frogging with her. She’s such a beast, I love her. We then did most of the climb and met back up with four fingers and Mike who are with Ella’s group. I forgot to mention right as we pulled up to the trailhead Ella was getting out of a hitch so we got to catch up with her. Her feet have been hurting so we pushed on without her but I think we are all camping in the same spot tomorrow which I’m excited for. Anyway, they said that there were a ton of people ahead of us all potentially camping where we planned. So we booked it. Luckily we passed more people and met up with klara who also is in Ella’s group and we got to chat with her for the last mile. I hate to put Caleb on blast but it’s important that I express my emotions on here. He made a joke that I did not like whatsoever. It crossed a boundary for me and I expressed that to him and then booked it ahead as I needed space because I was fucking annoyed. I was practically running down the trail and he tried to catch up. Eventually he yelled out hey like I’m sorry and we talked it out which was nice. Totally forgive him and he realized my perspective on it so now we are besties again. Plus these guys at this point are like my brothers between the teasing to caring for each other. I truly don’t want to cross any lines with them as I have full total respect for their girlfriends and their relationships. I think it’s super important to have that boundary and to not cross it. It was bad joke and he realized it and apologized and that’s all I could ask for. Like I said we are besties again. Anyway, got to camp and got a good campsite which is all I could ask for. Apparently bears frequent the area so hopefully none bother me tonight. There are a lot of rustling in the bushes but when I used my flashlight, it was only a toad. Praying nothing gets into my tent or food which I have in ziplock bags and then in my backpack inside my tent. I should be good.

The hike today was literally a gain of 2800 feet and a loss of 2800 feet. It actually was a net gain of +10. Back where we started basically. And the next two days are basically the same thing. So stupid.