Day 70, mile 1018

Monday, July 1, 2013
Layover between Legs 10 & 11: Sonora Pass, California
Overnighting: Bridgeport, Mono County, California

Cache drop delivered by Flanagan parents who drive down from Seattle.  Sometimes a mom just needs to see her boy.  Staying in a hotel tonight, and each Andrew gets his own queen-sized bed!

Crossed the 1,000 mile mark yesterday.  Only 700 miles remaining in California.  They will be picking up the pace the next few legs add they only have five weeks until Oregon.  Yes you're mental math is correct, the remainder of California will be hiked at an average of 124 miles each week or 18 miles per day (21 miles per day of you figure six days on & one day off).

June is high mosquito season.  But add in multiple  breathtaking alpine lakes (and the swampy terrain that surrounds the lakes) and you have a recipe for miserable swarms.  At one point Red was walking about eight feet behind Mathes and the mosquitos were so thick a haze formed between them.  Uck!  They are combating the bugs with head nets that for over a hat, long sleeves and pants, and DEET on all exposed skin.  Still getting bites, but not becoming anemic.

Lots of family and friends support these next couple weeks as well.  As mentioned above, the Flanagan parents delivered the cache for Leg 11.  Leg 12 was mailed today.  The Mathes parents will deliver cache drops for Legs 13 and 14.  Wheezy brings Leg 15 resupply with him when he joins, and Aki delivers Leg 16 box when Wheezy departs.  Then two drops from the Cowan family and were in Ashland, Oregon!  Rebecca and get mother are delivering the food for Leg 19 at Crater Lake just six weeks from today!