PCT day 21 - mile 418 to mile 444

"I'm in so much pain, I want to literally destroy something" Long Story.

"When I started hiking I promised myself I'm going to write something everyday. Seven days later, it's done. I ain't writing no more" Beastmode.

We woke up at 5am as agreed last evening with the plan to hike 25 miles to KOA (Kampgrounds of America) resort. The problem I had was that my right shin didn't fully recover during the night and it was still hurting, so I decided to hike slowly in a 'recovery mode' all day. Tank Top initially stuck with me in hopes that I might walk it off, but it wasn't getting any better, so he finally gave up and went faster.

It was a cruisy path today without difficult stretches, the day was windy and quite cloudy, a welcome change to the stagnant heat of previous ones. There was only one water cache along the way at the North Fork Ranger Station maintained by ranger Todd, but luckily it was enough.

I came down from the trail at 5:30pm feeling much better and was welcomed by the trail magic at the parking lot close to the KOA campground. I had few doughnuts, a slice of apple pie and drunk a pepsi, hikers looked quite tired but still in good spirits about the trail ahead. One trail family I have spoken to rented a car and will be having a zero day tomorrow at the local beach, two other guys completely ruined their feet and will be taking time to recover. Trail angel called Galindo offered to give me a place to stay in LA before my flight back to London in August which would be a great option!

When I arrived at the campsite hikers including Tank Top decided that they will also have a zero day tomorrow and that they will be going to the Six Flags Theme Park. I decided to be the boring European and gave it a pass, partially to have a slower day to recover my legs and partially for the budgetary reasons.

My plan for tomorrow is to hike 10 remaining miles to the town along the trail called Agua Dulce, do the resupply (although apparently it's very basic) have something good to eat (burrito?!) and find a camp spot for the night at a reasonable distance.

PCT giveth, PCT taketh. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Trail magic at the parking lot:

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