We got an early start from the campsite to give us time to stop by the village wifi to update some of our maps. We are considering a detour in a few days and need better map info to make the decision. We also need to stop by the store for a couple last minute things and swing by the post office to mail our hiking stuff back home.
Mailing our gear out here and back home has been very smooth and so much better than lugging boots around for two months. Definitely the way to go for a trip like this.
Boots headed for the post office
After a second breakfast/first lunch (bike touring is a lot like being a hobbit) we finally started out of the valley around 9 am.
We pulled over at El Capitan to watch some climbers high up on the wall for a bit. It made what we did yesterday look super easy.
The climb up to the camp ground was not bad. My legs were crazy stiff this morning from yesterday's hike but the biking muscles seem to be completely different. Getting off the bike at the campground I hobbled around setting up my tent. My legs felt very similar to after running a marathon.
Randy arrived shortly after we did and enjoyed watching us limp around like invalids. We walked back up the road a short bit to a park store to get some cold drinks and snacks. I laughed at my shopping priorities when I laid it out on the picnic table.
Balanced shopping: cold drink, cold drink, cold drink, brush for chain... Maybe some fruit
We stopped at the same store on the way to the campground and we met a nice older fellow named Dennis who knew quite a bit about the local area. He is also a biker but not today. We asked him about a spot we found on our map that indicates a hot spring close to our route. He confirmed that it is nice and gave us some tips for a couple more. Looking forward to soaking the sore legs in another couple days.
Our vagabond troupe has grown
Tonight is our last night camping with Bruce and Lilia. We will see them on the road tomorrow but then they are off to do some backcountry camping.
Since we mailed our stove back to Seattle, it also means that tonight we need to use their stove to cook up all of our pasta. With some green peppers, Roma tomatoes, sauce, and lots of pasta we had a nice farewell dinner.
This is what a fancy meal looks like
We've gotten such conflicting information about camping at Tuolumne Meadows that we decided after dinner to try to just push on over Tioga Pass tomorrow and get to the town of Lee Vining. We will have to climb over 5000ft and cover about 60 miles to do it. Good thing my legs aren't sore.
Off to bed to be up early for tomorrow's work.
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