“Nobody’s Friend” and I arrived about 9 AM on Friday 7/18 in Ashland and headed for Callahan’s on Interstate 5 where we had a big breakfast and waited for Christy and Marcus to arrive. After we all finished stuffing ourselves we drove into Ashland and dropped off “Nobody’s Friend” at the Post Office. He would later find his way to the Hostel and then to stores to shop and ship his resupplies before the PO closed for the weekend. I headed home with C&M. Talk, more talk, shower, change of clothes, lunch, haircut, and then dinner out ensued.

On Saturday 7/19 I took a zero day, my sixth, and we had breakfast out. I planned my next 13 days and phoned Matthew and Justin so they would know how Matthew could meet me in Sisters OR on 8/1. Now I just have to execute my plan. The stumbling block is the lack of campsites on the trail at my daily 20 mileage completion distance which might make me go further and arrive earlier. I’ll do my best to make it on 8/1. Then it was time to do my resupply with the food Kathy and Katie shipped here. With a few additional purchases I prepared 5+ days of food. [As Marcus and I were doing errands we saw a hiker walking down the road and stopped to help him and we learned it was Snail Trainer, who I know well, who had just arrived in town. We got him to the Hostel but it was full so we dropped him off at a local campground] After doing a few miscellaneous chores, like putting Velcro for my gaiters on my shoes, I was done and we went out for BBQ. It is so nice to have family here and a place to relax.

So on Sunday 7/20 early early early we’ll go pick up “Nobody’s Friend” at the Hostel at 5 AM and then we’ll drive out and be back on the trail heading for Crater Lake.