Today we headed to Green Valley and Casa De Luna. Casa De Luna, we heard, was named because it is the spot most hikers hit after a month on the trail. We discovered later that was only half the tale.
It will be a month to the day tomorrow for Shedpa and I and we are planning on celebrating.
We woke up at 5:30 a.m. and as I was wiping the sleep out of my eyes, Yote and 2.Toe passed the tent and jokingly whispered something to the effect of “what kind of jerks put their tent right in the middle of the trail?” I laughed and we started packing up our bags. We heard Tofu say goodbye and start hiking. We weren’t too far behind.
The hiking was enjoyable and after a short climb, not to hard. We passed a sort of leader board and memorial bench. The board had times for record setters to that point. Pretty remarkable.
Before long we could see the Green Valley Fire station as we descended to the road crossing where we would hitch to Casa De Luna. When we arrived we decided to wait on Tofu, Tote, and 2.Toe who were not far behind. We were in no rush and felt pretty confident about an easy hitch. Soon we could see them descending and Sherpa was spying on them through the “monocular” I got from the hiker box in Hiker Town. Tofu showed up first and then Yote. As he crossed the road I put the monocular on my phone camera and snapped a pretty unflattering picture, which will come in handy later. Hiker bullies strike again!
Soon we were all together again and it was time to hit the road. Hitching took all of 2 minutes. A realtor in a red truck stopped and said she couldn’t take us all the way. I asked how far and she said pretty close, so we all piled in the back. We have ridden in the back of some great trucks so far and it’s by far my favorite way to hitch.
On the way she picked up another hiker in front of a cafe that we heard had milkshakes and hamburgers. Our mouths salivated as we passed and she took us all the way to Casa De Luna. I have to say my first impression was sort of “Oh god, what have we gotten ourselves into.”
We were created by a skinny man in a cowboy hat and all black long underwear. He had an unusual way of taking and there were groggy people laying around on dirty mattresses and there was junk kind of laying here and there.
I snapped a photo because I thought, I am going to want to remember this moment.
The skinny man introduced himself as Country Gold and gave us a quick tour. Among other things he said we could camp anywhere in the back yard. After getting the lay if the land we headed into the wooded back yard. Instantly I started feeling better and the fear of the bazaar dissipated. The backyard was very large and full of tunnels and openings inside what looked like scrub oaks. Before long we all found a good spot to throw up our tents and stake our claim before going to the cafe.
On the way out we bumped into Giggles and he gave us great directions to get to the cafe quickly. The walk was pleasant and we all chatted along the way.
We arrived at the cafe and pushed two tables together and ordered food. Yote and I ordered a cheeseburger with an egg on top, waffle fries, and a side salad. Sherpa got chicken tenders and waffle fries. Tofu got s giant ceaser and waffle fries. 2.Toe ordered something but I forget. We devoured it and then we headed to the gas station to get celebratory drinks and use their bathroom.
The gas station had everything we needed. A good IPA selection and lots of 8% Bud Light Lime tall boys in assorted, festive flavors in packs of 2. I bought a pack and a 6 pack of IPA’s for Sherpa and I to share. I accidentally bought Omission which is gluten free so I had to go back to swap it out.
I went back outside and sat on the curb with the other Hiker Bullies. The Bud Light Lime tall boys became very popular and everyone was drinking them. Before I knew it, I had drank 3 of them and I was starting to feel very celebratory! After more than an hour of drinking on a curb in front of a no loitering sign, it was time to leave. We went by the cafe again so Sherpa could get a milkshake! We also hike sometimes.
There we saw two brothers that are doing a long section and I stayed and chatted them up for a while, then we all started the walk back.
By this time I was feeling exceptionally good, some would say mildly intoxicated. We arrived back at Casa and there lots of people gathered, drinking, and hanging out. I sat and chatted with woodpecker and continued to enhance my condition.
Unfortunately, my dedication to the celebration was catching up to me. I saw someone out down a biker shirt with flames. Oh yeah, at Casa everyone had to wear a Hawaiian shirt. This shirt was barely passing as Hawaiian but I wanted it. I was really struggling to figure out how buttons work and I was making a spectical so Sherpa had to help me. After my big win with the shirt we moved to painting rocks, another Casa pass time. Everyone was doing such a fine job on their rock but I was employing the finger painting method and wasn’t having much success due to my new addiction to Bud Light Lime. Soon the paint was on my nose and then Tofu’s nose.
I put the last touches on my creation and turned to Sherpa and said I am going to relax in the tent. She knew what that meant, I was down for the count.
I walked back to my tent and took four ibprophine, because with Bud Light Lime, the hangover starts before you finish. I fell asleep instantly.
Sherpa woke me with a start and I felt drunk and grumpy. She kindly had made a giant plate of taco salad. However it was the last thing a hungover drunk person wants to eat. I tried to do anything in my power to graciously get her to go away but the only thing I could do was to take the plate. After she left I ate three bites and put it at my feet in the tent, because that’s smart.
I heard someone yell “Carpe Nocturn” and run by. It was a odd night. Luckily Sherpa returned soon and managed the rogue plate and came to bed. I owe her big time! Soon we were both asleep like little hiker babies.