May 2nd: Frogs, Angels, Fog and an RV

Apparently small frogs can make an excessive quantity of noise during mating season. Come to find out, there were approximately a million male frogs vying for the heart of one lonely female and all of them were having their love party directly adjacent to my place of rest. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. All was not lost however, for just a mere 9 miles up-trail a tasty breakfast was to be found. I arrived in Warner Springs around 10am and quickly directed myself to the newly set up community center. In years past, hikers were able to eat and stay at a resort in town but a bank foreclosure put an end to that just a few weeks before hiking season. Thusly the wonderful citizens of Warner Springs created a diner/store/Internet cafe in their existing community center. Absolutely wonderful people. I found myself completely resupplied and fed a wonderful breakfast for a grand total of $11. Lounging around a bit with other hikers I found myself with a desire to keep moving. FallRisk and Clint from Australia seemed to be having a similar itch and we all set of together. The 17 miles after breakfast were both fantastic and dreadful. The views, the conversation and the simple fact that I wasn't working a desk job were enough to offset the foot pain, forming blisters and fog blowing across the ridge. Finally, just when I thought it were never arrive, the home of trail angel Mike appeared. It was dark, late and trail angel mike was nowhere to be found but a plague of other hikers had already claimed the bunkhouse and tent sites. "Where will you sleep samwise?" you find yourself wondering. "How about that slightly creepy abandoned recreational vehicle on blocks?" I reply and we all nod in agreement. Ah the joys of thru-hiking!