July 3
We are packed up and ready to say goodbye to our bed for the night. It was a very comfortable however there is a Metrolink train that ran until about 11 and started it again at 5 AM and they like to blow their horn as they pass by. Our open sided cabin also backs up to a road that got busy with commuters at about 5 AM still it was a very comfortable night. We set ourselves up for a short, 10.7 miles to serenity’s oasis where my car is parked. We’re heading out of camp at 6:30 which seems to be our fairly standard time. It’s amazing how distance become relative when you do long distance hiking I would never have thought about calling 10 miles a short distance.
Just as we exit the back of the RV part property, we come to the Santa Clara river, which we cross
As we come out of the river bed, we pass this large white flower known as the Sacred Datura
We cross the Metrolink railroad tracks that provided all the Horn honking last night and just to the left. Is the Pct completion monument where the last two sections in North and South Trail
As we get about midway up our grade, we can look down where we stayed last night
These rock formations look like sandstone with rocks mixed in from a distance, but you get up close and realize they are like concrete in texture. You could almost picture a road above where concrete trucks stop and dump their excess supply
Up and across the canyon, you can see a cave. It’s only about 8 feet deep but about 6 feet tall and 20 feet wide. A hiker named Uncle and I spent the night there on my last hike along this section.
After the Cave, we continue along the canyon winding back-and-forth soon Highway 14 is visible in the distance
We’ve arrived at the tunnel under Highway 14. Ryan can do a happy dance. He now has everything from the border to Walker pass complete.
As we enter Vazquez Canyon, I’m reminded of how awesome the formations in here are. I’m also reminded that we still have 3 1/2 miles when mentally it feels like we are done. Regardless of the feelings, these canyon walls are spectacular
We made it all the way through Vazquez County Park. We’ve reached the main road and now we’ll do a road walk for our last mile or so to serenity oasis when we complete our section hike. We will stop for a burger and some fries about midway down the main street.
After a delicious hamburger and great conversation with some locals, we arrived at serenity’s oasis and picked up my car. 10.7 miles today, 117 miles total walking, 110 on the actual PCT trail.
Good memories with somebody I met as a random stranger on the PCT who is now a lifelong friend thank you Ryan
