leboyfriend

Monday dawned bright and sunny and, for

sang and

grrlpup , early. I grunted them a relatively civil “Good morning” at o-dark-thirty and then rolled over and went back to sleep content that they had lots of stuff to get ready and I didn’t need to be concerned with any of it. When I finally awoke they were nowhere to be seen but I correctly surmised that they were sitting by the motel pool and I repaired there taking Louie with me. The entire rest of the morning was taken up with much packing and re-packing of backpacks and Leboyfriend lopping many an inch of Grrlpup’s hair. I did this reluctantly and not terribly well but she was adamant that she wanted a short bob and that there really wasn’t anything to cutting it. I suspect that had I pressed the matter she would have assured me that everything she had ever heard about haircuts is that they are ‘plug and play’. I think Sang’s attitude must be catching.

So, while I ponced around doing my Vidal Sassoon thing, Sang took the opportunity to get out her soldering kit (we all carry one of those, right?) and made a solar panel with which to recharge her camera battery. Seriously. She did. And it worked. Sometimes I wonder what they are doing with a guy like me whose reaction to disaster (a corked bottle of claret, say) is to go immediately to the top of the chain of command and by the application of stick and carrot have things put right by someone else. I am a most fortunate man. And I try never to forget it.

Finally we checked out of the motel and after another heart breakfast set off for their departure point – over Mt Ashland and down to the California/Oregon border. Travelling directions had been secured by Grrlpup from someone on a PCT message board. Whoever he may be he needs to be struck forcibly behind the right ear with a weighty blunt instrument. He sent us by what transpired to be a very rough forest service road which was full of potholes and took hours of nerve-wracking driving by Sang. She did an excellent job but we arrived at our destination stressed and tired. I took a different route back and it took no time at all on proper roads with yellow lines down the middle. Grrrr!

Once at the top, the three of us and Louie walked a short distance along the PCT to the border so Sang and Grrlpup could sign the register and pose for a photo-op. Then it was time for them to put on their packs and set off, leaving a somewhat emotional LeB to wave as they disappeared out of sight.

The delay of a day in their departure means that their itinerary had to be adjusted slightly but I shall be driving south next Saturday morning and bringing them supplies and good cheer. I can’t wait! When I return next Monday I shall report on their health, happiness and progress. If you should wish to send them a message, email it to me and I will print it and take it with me. In the mean time I am house-sitting, looking after a despondent Louie and taking care of a bunch of stuff they didn’t get around to doing before they left – returning library books, that kind of thing. And, yes, I’ll be missing them.

I'll post photos as soon as possible and will post the link here.