Tiny Tuna = Hiking / Dancing Machine

This morning we woke up in Julian, in a nice little lodge, in a bed, with a TV, toilet and shower. The short nine mile day we did yesterday was nice and we enjoyed our time in Julian, but it was a big day we had planned. We had to hitch back to Scissors Crossing and then hike the 24 miles to Barrel Springs. We each took a 200mg caffeine tab upon waking, more to induce a bowel movement than anything, but the energy would be great as well for this epic (so far) day. We left the lodge just after 6AM to go out to the main road and look for a hitch. Julia did some fantastic dancing (I have videos) and we got a hitch in about 15 minutes. By the time we got down to the trail head and began our day, it was 7AM. We signed the register at the water cache there and then headed off.

Between Scissors and Barrel Springs there's one water cache 14 miles into the day, and it can always be dry, so you need to start with enough water to get you to BS, just to be sure. Our morning was incredible. We both felt great, the air was cool and we we're climbing up and up and up! Great, easy walking. Don't get me wrong, we are hiking, like these trails ain't THAT easy and it's rarely more than a foot wide but it was great walking. We always joke that Jubers has 'Morning Legs' because she always does great in
the morning and at night but the heat of the day really gets to her. Well by 10AM we had gone 8+ miles and felt great, but then it slowed significantly, and it was my fault, not hers. She was hammering allllllll day. I had a couple blisters on my left foot that got more painful as the day got hotter. After what seemed to take forever, we stumbled across the glorious water cache at third gate, and before we could see the water jugs, our good pal Batman asked for ID. Haha. We got a gallon jug of water, took a couple of liters from it, signed the register, thanked the amazing trail angels that fill and haul all these gallon jugs in, and sat in the shade. I addressed my blisters and sent a spot message. We stayed there for about an hour and a half, ate (our delicious fresh avocado that we carried from town) and chilled and planned the last ten miles of the day. 5 miles to a small cave and then 5 miles to Barrel Springs. Julia was in front, as usual, but I couldn't even keep up, she was still hiking like her shorts were in fire. Oh, that reminds me, her legs are WHITE. Anyways, less than 2 hours later we were at the cave and decided to stay for dinner there. That ended up being another hour and a half and our friend Merideth stopped for a half hour and had a snack with us. Hike, eat, sleep, repeat. After dinner, the last five miles were all downhill. Not TOO bad and we PASSED 100 miles!! Whoop! 2550 more to go.

As we approached Barrel Springs there were signs on the trees saying there was free beer and food ahead. These incredibly nice folks are camped out in their campervans nearby and cooked up a ton of food (veggie burgers too) and had cold drinks in coolers and a big fire. Man, people out here are so generous. So of course we saw good ole Batman there and chatted with him and some others (one who grew up in Scarborough and now lives in Victoria). Now we're in bed, having undone all te cleaning and resting we did in Julian, but we're 24 more miles up the trail. Sweet!

Warner Springs tomorrow!