Day 112: Unplanned 0 Day in Etna

Date: 28.07.2018 Miles hiked today: 0 miles Total Mileage: Mile 1'599.7 Indeed I didn't sleep well, it was simply too hot! Also my extra warm sleeping pad doesn't support me sleeping better! That's also why I didn't get up early, I slept in. But breakfast is too tempting so finally I get up. Together with Duchess, Parmesan, Hitch, Dingo and Tank we walk to the newly opened bakery. We just arrive in time as shortly after the place nearly explodes by all the hikers in there! I order food and a frappuchino, and waited and waited and waited. After more than 1 hour finally my breakfast burrito and drink arrive. But it was worth it, the breakfast burrito is by far the best I had so far on trail and also the frappuchino is delicious. The owner of the pace apologises for the long waiting time. They have been surprised by the number of hikers, are open only since 2 weeks and hence messed up some orders. But they are super friendly and he offers another free drink for the long waiting time. For sure I take one more of this delicious Frappuchino! It's nearly lunch time when we finally leave the place, that's how long it took to get food! We plan on going back on trail in the early afternoon and hike 10 miles. But it's so damn hot in Etna, even without moving and sitting in the shade i'm sweating! We are all so tired too because of the heat and can't move. Its 1pm and then 2pm and then 3pm and we still haven't moved. Finally I pack up so we may get back on trail in the afternoon! But we are all so unmotivated and eventually the question comes up to stay another night and make an unplanned 0 day here. Sparkles joins us, she is anyways going to stay here tonight and tells us that a local woman has agreed to give her a ride back to the trailhead tomorrow morning at 6am. For sure we can fit all together in the car. That's it, if the hitch is already organised and also early in the morning than we stay! What a relief! And also today there is a Rodeo here in Etna. I love Rodeos and that supports the decision to stay one more night. Sparkles and me go shopping for resupply before we walk to the Rodeo, both of us eating a big cannister of ice cream! It's 10 bucks entry fee and hence there are not that many hikers there (most of them don't like to pay extra). But for me it's more than worth it. It's super fun to watch and a great experience. There are a couple of 100 people watching the Rodeo. Typical American, everyone drives there with their big vans, the pick up area prepared with chairs and umbrellas to watch the Rodeo out of their cars! The Rodeo for sure is another highlight for me on this adventure! During the Rodeo the smoke starts to come in and by the time we leave around 9pm it's very smoky already. At the Rodeo we met some Americans from Redding. There is a big wild fire in Redding at the moment and the inhabitants of this quite big town had to leave their houses and were moved here to Etna for an uncertain time until it's secure to move back to their houses. That's so crazy! But they are all quite relaxed about it.

As I packed up my tent this afternoon and I'm too tired to re set it up I decide to cowboy camp. It's again a very hot night and as we are heading out early tomorrow it's nice to not need to pack up your tent in the early morning. I'm looking forward to get back on trail and up higher elevation for cooler temperatures tomorrow, but Etna has been a very pleasant stay!