Whitewater Preserve (trout farm)

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Today we took a Nero day and only hiked for 4.5 hours. We did 8 miles and had about 3 one hour stairmaster sessions of severe uphill. At one point 

DG had to lean forward, the grade was so steep, however the  views were  panoramically spectacular. At one point I was reminded of the Grand Canyon. It was terrifically hot and my face once again turned into a salt rub. TC and Topo sweat to the soaking point. I  become a salt shaker.

      The Whitewater Preserve is awesome. PCT hikers can camp for free. There are restrooms and water and a ranger station with cool exhibits inside. We get to sit at a picnic table to eat. Tonight we will be sleeping on top of the table. Who needs a tent when you have a stone slab.

    Tomorrow will be a predawn start as we have 15 miles to go. We are on our way to Big Bear which should take 3 days.

      I have come on this trip to experience the kindness and generosity of this planet I live on and yesterday's experience at Ziggy and the Bears was exceptional. Epsom salt footpaths upon arrival. A shower, washing basin (we missed the salad), fruit, ice-cream, tea, coffee, a carpet covered backyard to lay down our sleeping bags, a newly made porch to accommodate hikers, a recharge station for everyone's devices, organized trash services, need I go on? But mainly there was such heartfelt welcome for weary travelers, our trials and hardships of the day were forgotten. These two elderly people (maybe in their 80s) performed this service from pure love and joy. They were both limping around smiling from here to kingdom come. I asked The Bear why he did this for hikers. He said he respected the endurance it took to complete the trail. He took everyone's picture (taken as a mug shot) as we held our number. We were numbers: 163,164,165. That is how many people have stopped at his house this year. If you make it to Canada you are supposed to write and tell him and he puts a star beside the picture he took of you. Many hardcore hikers who never rest for a second cannot resist the charm of this place and it's owners.They slow down, have a footbath and let Bear take their picture. Ziggy and the Bear used to live  in Anza but they moved to be closer to the trail. They are about 100 yards from the trail. They moved to a place to be more convenient to people they don't know and will probably never see again. Hello!

Cow girl camping.  Topo's patch of grass.