June 2 - Saufley's (Agua Dulce) and Andersons

Start: lake hughes road
End: ? Before a water tank somewhere
Daily: 15.3
Total: 501

So, I didn't write the last few days because we were at the Saufleys' and then the Andersons'. Both are amazing couples who open their homes and/or properties to hundreds of thru hikers each year. At the Saufleys' you get your basic needs taken care of - resupplies, laundry, and a place to sleep. You can also send things ahead to Kennedy Meadows. It's all done soooo efficiently and in such good cheer. Donna Saufley is such a nice person - she definitely makes you feel like she's been really wanting to meet you. And she has, she just didn't know who you were!

Then Sugar Moma brought our food to the Andersons' so we could slackpack the 24 miles there. We made it there really quickly. People say it's really dry, but there were about seven streams between the houses. Some people try to do 24 beers in those 24 miles. One guy finished his with 6 miles to go! He's a bigger dude, but shrinking rapidly.

Anyway, I don't know what to say about the Andersons' except that it felt so much like home I couldn't believe it. We slackpacked 8 miles yesterday and I caught myself looking forward to getting "home" for enchilidas. When we left, I felt legitimately homesick for Casa de Luna (what they call their house). It is strange.

When we got there, we were told to set up our tent in the enchanted forest... To "pick a path and go with it." Out back, through a fence, there was literally a forest of thick manzanita with paths cut through. We walked for what must have been at least an eighth of a mile until we found a spot to set up. Apparently it's National Forest land back there. It was incredible.

Then we came back and hung out. We knew everyone there. We spent the night sitting on couches and futons and chairs in their driveway having awesome singalongs and eating giant plates of taco salad. The next day was pretty much the same thing, except with enchiladas and Mr. Gentle Spirit brought out his drums and second guitar and trumpet and tambourine and  freaking stage lights and then he sang jazz songs and played drums while Pepe and Ramble On played guitar. It was so amazing. MGS is a professional jazz singer and he's bouncing his car so he can play shows as he hikes.

Terri and Joe Anderson are phenomenal people. I really don't know how to explain it other than they are just Good. So funny. So loving and full of laughter. I really hope we get to see them again. And theres's really never a dull night at Casa de Luna.

Anyway, we finally left (some people had been there four or five days, even when they hadn't meant to stop there in the first place - Terri tries to talk everyone out of leaving) and hiked for a long time. It seemed like it took us forever to get anywhere. But we made it to a windy but flat spot and decided to keep going to see if there was something better. Bad idea. Now we're camped in a small break in the brush - the first break in a while. It's still windy too. LOL I guess Terri was right. We shouldn't have left.