August 25

I have enjoyed my Sunday nearo day immensely and am so grateful for the home that was opened up to me for Saturday night. We said with a long ago friend of my mom's from her newlywed days on the west coast. I had a huge lunch and was persuaded to have a second slice of pie for dessert. After a quick stop at a grocery store my mom drive me out to the trailhead from Klamath Falls. It must be from spending the week hiking with mom or the two nearo days that made me feel so at home because on the way to the trailhead I got the jittery feeling in my stomach, yet I was headed to what I consider my "home". Whatever it was I am glad now to be back on trail.

With the town power I was able to make 10 miles in less than 3 hours even though I've been in rain for the last hour and a half. I was listening to the epilogue of "Crime and Punishment" when over my noise canceling earbuds a thunderclap sounded that sent chills down my spine. I wasn't paying any attention to the sky and was absorbed in the book. Looking up, I saw that I was on a ridge top with a nasty storm rolling in overhead. I scrambled to pull out my rain gear and the sky opened up. There was enough hail to make the ground white and lightning dancing around within minutes as I ran ahead to where the trail dipped down 600 ft. and off the ridge. I have camped early at 7:30 10 miles in and am glad I had a sandwich packed for me so I don't have to cook. The rain is just drizzling lightly and I'm ready to fall asleep to the raindrop lullaby tonight.