You Have to Love Hikers
Posted on | November 30, 2008 | Comments Off
It’s a rule.
Ryan and Lindy. I first saw them my last night in Section F of the Pacific Crest Trail. Section F. We made a verb of it. “Section F it.” A tough section for me. As unrewarding, in my mind, as any area on the trail. Except that I met Ryan and Lindy. There were Joshua trees at a trail intersection, and a water cache. Ryan and Lindy were already settled in for the night when I arrived. And we exchanged short pleasantries. They were still sleeping when I left the next morning.
I hitched into Onyx and in the general store learned of a “secret” camping spot along the Kern River, just across the highway. Idyllic. Cottonwoods. Sunshine. Gentle breeze. Shade next to the river. But. It was not such a secret after all. Popsicle, Nazgul, Ryan and Lindy. All showed up. We had a grand time.
The next day Ryan and Lindy got an early hitch back to the trail while I waited at the post office for a mail drop. As I was hiking along Spanish Creek, looking for a much needed camp site, I heard “JJ!”. It was Ryan and Lindy camped on a shelf above the creek.
Ryan threw a bowl with quotes and pictures from my journal painted on it and sent it to me. It is one of the finest gifts I have received in my almost sixty-five years. It is about 12 feet from me now.
I have kept up with them, their travails as Ryan finished graduate school and was concerned about finding work and supporting his young family. Daughter Serena was born not too long after their hike. Ryan’s new job on the west coast. Their continuing love of hiking. Taking Serena for the first time on a trail.
I just got a message from Ryan. He is on the way back from a business trip to China and Europe. The young man gets older.
Walk well. God is love.
