***Longest mileage in a day to date ***

Hiking down to the desert floor weaving and winding there via the most indirect route…

Stopped at a creek to filter water and dunk shirts - another hot and sunny day. Also washed my socks in the creek as they were VERY dirty (they could stand up on their own!).

Walked by a sleeping rattlesnake on trail - he didn’t even react to me.

Katriona is skipping ahead to Kennedy Meadows (she’s over the desert) and gave Devon her sun umbrella to help with the heat and sun we still have ahead of us.

Came down onto a dirt road that leads directly to Hikertown. We picked up resupply boxes here and hung out in the patio in the shade for a bit.

Hikertown can be described as a ramshackle of tacky themed buildings (ie: old western town with saloon, Bank, City Hall, etc.) some of which can be rented for the night and some are the owner’s. The place is rundown and pretty dirty. There are chickens running around the patio - trying to find food we drop. But they like hikers and let us hang out in the shade before moving on.

Shuttle driver stopped to take hikers up the road to a convenience store/greasy spoon kitchen. We went and got cokes and burgers and fries - so full! ☺️

Shuttled back to Hikertown to relax and rest before we head out again to hike the Aqua ducts.

**Most hikers choose to hike the canal at night because it is straight and flat and usually very hot and sunny with no shade for ~ 23+ miles. **

Set out at 6 PM - just before sunset. Hiked on a dirt road (past the cutest group of donkeys) until we reached the aqua ducts. The start is open air - you can see the water flowing and walk alongside - like a concrete river.

Eventually the aqua ducts are covered and flow through big pipes that are covered in concrete. Ironically walking along the aqua ducts we have no access to water even though it’s directly below our feet.

Magic provided by a resident that lives off the canal - water fountain available for public use - we filled water from here for the next 15 miles.

Walking on the road next to the canal watching the sunset and spotting Joshua trees. There are solar power farms and wind farms all along the road. So much energy!!

As the sun goes down the bugs come out. We used encyclopedia Steven to confirm the identity of the bugs we’re encountering (Jerusalem cricket, thread legged katydid). We also saw snakes and kangaroo mice jumping and frolicking about.

Wind is almost a constant - the only change is direction and intensity. Sometimes you get a load of sand in your face. It’s nice when the wind is at your back pushing you forward.

Moving forward through the darkness with only the light illuminated in front of you and wind blowing bits of sand through the air you sometimes get the impression you’re deep see diving underwater - or maybe it’s because we’ve been hiking for so long and it’s almost midnight.

We’ve stopped twice to sit and stargaze - saw two shooting stars!

Eventually with the wind blowing and tired achy feet and bodies we are going to call it a night. We are keeping eyes open for a wash or flatish area to setup tents. Going to bed around 1:30 AM.

Making due with a creosote sheltered little area off the road. Setting up tents in the wind. Attempting some sleep with wind and sand blowing.

@ 2770 ft. Elevation