I managed to postpone our exit from Hiker Heaven until around 9.

This was the first zero day I took just to rest, and not just trying to get better from some injury or illness. It felt good. I didn’t sleep in, though. I guess I’m used to wake up with sunrise. Besides, I knew I’d be cooking inside my sleeping bag in 10 minutes, if I’d stay in it.

As usual, we got up late, and were almost the last to leave the campground. I last saw Idan when we were crossing the rail road, just beyond the KOA. He just went off and didn’t look back. The climbs weren’t that bad, and I passed several hikers on my way up. The trail then went down and under a highway. It then entered the Vasquez Rocks Park, which was very nice, and has all those signs next to different trees, with their names on them. At this point I figured out Idan is not going to stop until the end, so I found a nice shady spot on the side of the trail, and had my snickers. Soon, Sunbeam and Arctic joined me for a snack, and surprised me that we only have 3 more miles to go. Penguin joined us, and we headed out to the last bit together.

Phew. Longest day yet, and it felt like it.

So, after a nice warm night at the parking area, we were planning on hitching on the mostly deserted highway in order to get around some closure, and skip the ultra long (19 miles) official alternative and somewhat shorter old alternative.