Cherry Valley, CA to Lock Leven Camp
I awake again to another dreaded road walking day. I know...I did this to myself so I shouldn't complain. The good news is that by the end of today I will be back in the mountains and walking on dirt roads and trails instead of hiking the yellow dashes of the streets.
Tim dropped me off at 10:00 AM at the same spot he picked me up yesterday. As you can see, I am more than thrilled to the walk I have in front of me today.
Tim dropped me off at 10:00 AM at the same spot he picked me up yesterday. As you can see, I am more than thrilled to the walk I have in front of me today.
Let's get this day over with.
Today's walk started climbing up for the first three hours that remarkably only took me 1 hour to complete. I must be getting stronger...cool. During this climb, I looked back and spotted San Jacinto for the last time. I can't believe I was close to the top of that mountain just a few days ago. I am really making progress.
One last view of San Jacinto
I then turned left and walked more than 4 miles down into a canyon to the town of Yucaipa. I can't believe I spent a hard hour climbing only to loose it all. Finally, around 3:00 PM and almost 12 miles I arrived at my one goal of the day, the Mill Creek Forest Ranger Station. I met my goal of getting here before they closed at 3:30 PM. More than a time goal, it is also where I finally enter back into the mountains. And to make things even better, Tim met me here as well. This is my happy face:
Happy to be back into the mountains.
Now all I have to do is climb up Highway 38 for 4 miles to end the road walking and begin walking on dirt roads into Big Bear Lake. Although the 4 miles were a grueling climb, the scenery made it enjoyable.
Great mountain views.
Finally, after 1 1/4 hours I made it up to Mountain Home Village that marks the end of my road walking and where I start walking on dirt roads.
Mountain Home Village...I have been looking forward to you for 2 days.
Just up the road was a mileage sign that stated that Big Bear Lake is 42 miles away. Not the way I'm getting there. My route is a much shorter 25 miles. It is shorter if you go up and over a mountain than to drive around it.
42 miles...NOT!
Then, just around the bend was Tim waiting for me. He arrived at Lock Leven camp just before me and arranged for us to sleep on the premises. Although we would sleep in a tent, they said we had access to the indoor bathroom and a hot chocolate machine...cool!
Tim meeting me at Loch Leven camp.
We pitched the tent on a nice, flat grassy area and called it a night. Tomorrow is when my real adventure begins. Two days of being on my figuring out forest roads for the last 25 miles of this detour.
Great place for a tent.
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