Middle of Nowhere

October 2017 Canyon 2 Fire

In the wake of the fast-spreading Canyon 2 Fire, I left my parent's house in Anaheim Hills to somehow reach Kennedy Meadows. 

The journey began with a 5:30am Uber overflowing with Michael Jackson songs. It transferred onto a train to the LA station, then a bus to Bakersfield, a bus to Lake Isabella, and a bus to Onyx. That's when it got really interesting.

It was nearing 3 and I still needed to hitch an hour north along a random, rural road to Kennedy Meadows.

I didn't even put my thumb out for the guy passing on the Harley, I just waved. But he turned around nonetheless and offered me a ride. 

I felt instantly comfortable with his demeanor so I said what the heck, I'll have my first real motorcycle ride...with this 35 pound pack strapped to my back...

The force of the wind gusting against my pack was a bit terrifying. Mostly because between the wind and my pack weight I was sliding further and further back and my feet could no longer reach the foot pedals. 

I hung onto Harley man for dear life.

He offered to drive me up to Kennedy Meadows in his truck, since his house was right at the base of the junction. An ex construction manager, he'd built the house himself and it was absolutely gorgeous. Very zen. Standing in his house with cold Fanta in hand I was blown away at how fast my day had changed.

We arrived at Chimney Peak Campground where two well-groomed campers sat at a picnic table together. The tour of his backyard area came to an end as he said "Alright, this is where we stop." I was confused because we hadn't made it to Kennedy Meadows yet but I knew he'd helped me more than enough and figured I'd go find out what the hikers had to say.

It turned out the two picnic table people had just driven up from Costa Mesa; the girlfriend, Tripsy, was getting back on trail today after about a week off. 

We laughed at the thought that we'd come from essentially the same place and had ended up there together, at an abandoned campground in the middle of nowhere. 

They ended up deciding to go to Kennedy Meadows and I was able to ride along! Considering how few cars there were on that dirt road I was in near disbelief.

Upon reaching the KM General Store, we were greeted by a group of rowdy older locals that shared some funny stories, including the ones in "The Stupid Book" (a book where they write down the most ridiculous things that visitors get themselves into). 

It had everything from a guy dropping his pack and running from "6 bears with red eyes" (6 black cows) to a VW bus whos owner kept pressing the breaks while someone was trying to tow him.

Tripsy and I said our goodbyes to the local gentlefolks and set up camp at the cozy spot behind the store. 

And the rest involved living happily ever after, eating ferociously and going to sleep indulgently early.

The End.