24th May
Well we sat around the campfire. Late into the night doing trail confessions  and the usual stories about pooing on the trail.The main subject out  here  that and food..It was my first night in my New tent and lots of room.i slept well but woke at six my usual time. As I emerged there was a dozen hikers sat around the camp fire chilling.so I joined them.i want to be out of here by lunch time. Then there was a call for  breakfast at Grumpys. Yeah that sounds a good plan about 12 of us hikers piled into the  pickup and we’re driven the three miles. We all ordered  the breakfast pancakes.bacon and eggs and potatoes bloody awesome. Okay back to camp and pack up that W’s several hours ago .so here I am at Toms cabin  so ill finish this blog and go pack up and hope to to  a dozen miles. I’ll add more photos in 6 days when I get to Lone pine
Hope your enjoying my blog feel free to ask any questions or comments

Well I Left Toms Cabin and headed back to my tent come on you need to go.i  had issues with my inflatable mattress in the fact it kept going down so I covered in soap and water and blew it up …………nothing.then the other side. ……….nothing .I need a pool really. Oh well I wiped it clear and rolled it up.stuffed my sleeping bag into my pack then stared at the Bear canister. Where the he’ll are you going to fit.i shoved in my clothes then stood the Bear canister up. .hmm that works I then stuffed every thing in around it done .
Now where the water going to go!!!.I managed to squeeze that on top . brilliant. Okay I box to post. Pay my tab and oh yes I’m waiting for a parcel but it hasn’t come so now it needs to be forwarded. Dam oh well. My tab was high but it includes. Laundry. Shower. Holding and send mail food oh and beer.but I have walked 700 miles I deserved a beer..I am a little surprised I thought it was all Budweiser and Coors. No disrespect guys.but no there are some mighty fine micro breweries producing some great beers.i am go loving the IPA’S although most start at 6% and go up.tasty 🙂
So at last I’m ready.some day hikers are just leaving and offer to drop me off at the Trail head. Great.

I hoisted my. Pack onto my back and I’m off.its a gently start a nice meandering sandy path. That then continues through rich pine woods. Then to my left the river appears it’s the same one that I followed into Kennedy Meadows. .I love the sound of the river as it rushes over stones and gurgles it’s way down stream.The time is 2.30 and hot 85° which brings out the smell of the pine. I love that smell. I am miles away when several day hikers pass by.hi have a great hike then they are gone. I am now crossing a bridge. I stand and stare at the water from the middle before urging myself to get a move on. The trail now begins to climb but not too steeply, my pack feels good.i have lost the weight of my tent and gained a bear canister but it feels good. This part of the trail is now full of boulders j don’t like these parts as i need to concentrate on where i step because of my knees and so i am fairly slow.at last the boulders have  gone and I’m dropping down into what  appears to be  a big burn area and that means log jumping i’m rather good now.this log jumping section wasn’t too big so perhaps it’s a junior course. Although some big trees did need climbing over.these were typically burnt so you got a black bum hands etc such fun. Luckily no Poodle bush. But some nasty thorny plants to scratch your legs such fun. This burn area went on for a while then i emerged into a lush green valley. I am just amazed how the landscape changes from mile to mile.on i walked i was trying to do 12 miles today. Not bad as I didn’t start till 2.30.my watch was counting down Bing. Okay ill check the GPS at 6 pm. On I walked I was now in a thick pine forest. My favourite parts of the trail.i think I’m doing okay I said to myself love a sucky sweet but they hadn’t any at Kennedy sob.  So a breakfast bar will have to do . Bing went my watch great let me find a place to stop and sit.Right let’s see what I have done. ..oh fab I had done more okay but it’s 2 miles more to a reasonable camp…yeah I can do that. As I exited from the forest again I was in another lush valley but this one was so wide and in the distance mountains, although I couldn’t see mount  Whitney. Tomorrow maybe. I’m currently at 2900 metres so that climbs going to be tough. Okay I am at the right mileage let me find a spot.yep that will do. My new tent went up fairly easily for my second go.I now have a Big Agnes Fly-creek 3
Loads of room. Dinner was couscous with a packet of tuna srummy and tea of course. My bear vault is under a nearby tree with rocks on my other food is hanging in a bag in the tree.night all

Thursday
Well I set my  alarm for 4.45 I’m going to attack this section………
I crawled out of my tent at 6 bugger bugger bugger people were streaming past. I heard some familiar voices it was Big Sauce and Wales.  I walked over and we chatted for a while, then walked  back to my tent to break camp and then set off after them but I’m guessing they would be there 3 hours before me .
I was dreading the start as I knew it was uphill for most of the day.
So I rolled up my wet tent and I was on the trail. It was indeed uphill. But the aromour was so sweet it was a mixture of rosemary sage and a plant I think is called old man..I had such a good sleep but my feet were leaden. Come on legs don’t let me Down. Climb climb climb come on Snailtrainer, It takes me at least  an hour before the body checks in . today was taken longer plus maybe the atmosphere the height.  I climbed higher trying to gain speed. The day had started damp so I had my thermal on but a it warmed up I needed to change. Okay ill get to 9 am and take a break.
Come on watch say 9 at last I stopped changed my thermal had breakfast and a nice mug of tea.  That seemed to do the trick so I was up to a good speed.Next water in 10 miles .I am cool with that. I marched on the miles whizzed by i am thinking 10 miles that will be approx 1 pm lunch time
The trail was fairly friendly level or down ,Then the rain came bugger bugger I had to stop and remove my solar panel as I’m not sure if it’s waterproof
I walk on  in my shirt do I need my rain jacket? I will  wing it ,It’s raining but not hard. Then the sun comes out again grr. the weather is weird.  .The black clouds hover over head threatening. Ping goes my watch,  not long soon be lunch. The scenery as ever was amazing I just love it.I am heading down that normally means water! !  Ping great lunchtime. I boil up a coffee and eat lunch.  I check the GPS bugger dam bugger I was hoping I had done enough miles in the morning but it tells me that it’s another 10 miles  to Kennedy meadows. Dam bugger that means a hard afternoon
I sulkily pack up then start my march. Snailtrainer you can do this. I set off at my top speed (fast in my head)  there are some great views but I’m on a deadline I need to be some where
Stomp go my feet I’m in a hurry. I go past the water. I don’t need it I can get to Kennedy on what I have .The weather is a good a cool breeze  I like it ,on I walk the clouds are getting darker come on I say to them don’t bugger about now….
Come on boy I say to myself.
But the rain comes. .I’m. Fine. ..Come on I’m at max speed (in my head) then three hikers come up behind me and the bastards are running “twinkle, Coughe  and Sheriff Woody.  Guys that’s really not fair.
Just down the valley there is a river a welcoming site when your low on water but I’m good so i marched on
I’m going to Kennedy meadows and mile 700 I’m on fire lol
I followed the river for several  miles before it began to climb as I climbed miles 696 I saw what I thought was a dog swimming. So sat and watched it turned out to be a beaver wow.
Okay Kennedy Meadows 4 miles to go. Come on  …on I strolled. Now typically the sun was out and it was hot very hot. The miles were falling but not as fast as I want, It cant be far now
I’m at mile 702 where are you Kennedy Meadows
There is a trail register, so  I stop and sign. It’s got to be here.  I check my map and GPS. .Another hiker passes me can disappears into the distance. I’m confused. It should be here. The hiker comes back .Think I went wrong he says. We ponder at the maps. It’s got to be this way
we set off but he’s fast. I plod on yes yes Kennedy Meadows I can see it I walk up to the deck
Everyone cheers that I have arrived so many friendly faces
I dump my pack and go for beer. I choose a six pack of IPA  more cheers.
The atmosphere is fantastic.i grab a burger and we all talk Bollocks.then I’m introduced to carrot.  Carrot Quin is a lady who’s blog I followed last year. So celebrity status to me and  she’s doing it over again
I asked her why do it again ?.She replied why do it the first time !!!! Enough said..Then the Pink panther arrived my friend from months back. .The conversation then drops to problems pooing in the woods well it made us all laugh it was getting late so off to put up my tent. As I pass by a fire ring (campfire) there was Bucklebury the Dog with his owner who i can’t remember. They are walking the PCT .When my tent is up i join them by fire circle. It was soon joined by all the guys  and it was a great night singing and chilling. .The best part of the Pct

Photos to follow