I took an 8-day break from the trail during this stretch. I was just a day out of Tehachapi when my oldest daughter texted me and asked if she should get something for me to give to my wife on Mother's Day. That admttedly ate at me for the next couple days. So on Wednesday afternoon when I got an unexpected ride offer to Ridgecrest, I jumped at it, and there was able to rent a car back to New Mexico. It was awesome to be able to spend Mother's Day with my wife and family.

For whatever reason, it's much easier to rent a one way car out of California then it is back to California. So getting back involved Amtrak and buses and took a couple days longer than I expected. Anyway, yesterday morning I was able to get the same person that originally picked me up to drive me back to the same spot, so my continuous footpath is still in tact.

From here, my goal is to make it to Lone Pine by either Tuesday or Wednesday, where I'll be getting off trail once again for the birth of my granddaughter. I need to give the snow another week or two to melt anyway.