Charcoal and Struggles had sent a resupply package to Drakesbad which was only a half mile from where we were camping. We weren’t certain if we’d be able to get a spot there for the night, so they got up early to go get their package while Bunny and I lounged in the tent with coffee. The reasoning being that if we couldn’t get spots, they’d have to organize and repack.
Bunny had tried a couple days ago to make reservations for us. Just as she was finalizing the reservation, she confirmed the price—$220/person. They would not give us the PCT hiker special through a reservation. We were expecting $150/couple which includes 3 meals. A 300% premium was more than I was willing to agree to. We would just have to take our chances that there would still be spaces available on the holiday weekend.
We packed up when we finished our coffee and headed to Drakesbad. We found Charcoal and Struggles sitting on the deck of the restaurant waiting for breakfast. The office wasn’t open yet, so they couldn’t get their package or see if we could get the hiker deal. We joined them and had a town breakfast to hold us over. When we tried to get rooms, they started quoting us $250/couple. Charcoal talked them down to $200/couple. Bunny and I came in and told them we had been quoted $150/couple just 2 days ago and we showed them the notes in Guthook that also said the same price. The manager finally agreed to the price. I’m pretty sure they were just fishing the price on the older people (us).
Drakesbad is the ultimate American vacation—pure gluttony with a bed. There is a lot to do here on the ranch: fishing, hiking, horseback riding, nature watching, eating, swimming (in non-Covid times), table tennis, watching each other die from overeating, etc. We chose the straight up American version of overeating and sleeping. In between meals, we might shower.
We all headed upstairs to our rooms. This is a “rustic” experience in the mountains. That means we are off grid, but there is a generator which powers the ranch until 10p. At 10p, if you haven’t already thrown up from overeating, they will provide a pint of castor oil just as the lights go out. Hopefully, you can find the toilet in your room before you vacate enough to do it all again tomorrow. There is a two day minimum stay, normally, except they tend to lose money on PCT hikers when allowing unlimited food. We only have a one night stay.
Charcoal and Struggles headed to the bathhouse for showers before lunch while Bunny and I opted for trying to nap. We only had 3 hours until the next meal and we didn’t want to run the risk of missing it. We are quite dirty and, since there isn’t laundry here, we plan to wash our clothes in the shower. We need at least a 5 hour window to dry out before the next meal.
Another surprise for us, after we had stuffed ourselves with lunch, the server/cook asked if we wanted dessert. Hell yes, especially if there is anything chocolate. I got caramel crumb cakes (2) with chocolate drizzle and chocolate ice cream. Charcoal got cheese cake and huckleberry ice cream, while the women, not quite getting the American dining experience, opted for just a scoop of huckleberry ice cream, each. Rookies!
Admittedly, I was a bit bloated after the meal. Bunny and I decided to go for a short walk, less than 2 miles, to cover all possible PCT routes between the ranch and where we camped last night. This gave me just enough stomach capacity to not throw up before we finish supper this evening (maintaining a preset schedule is very important to engineers). I took my shower and did laundry while Bunny napped, then we switched tasks. An interesting thing happened to me in the shower…I decided to trim my toe nails. I’ve been thinking I was going to lose one that had turned black. When I started to trim the nail in question, it flipped up like it was hinged. When I woke up, I concluded that it didn’t need to be trimmed as it probably wasn’t growing any more. If I have my way, the hinged nail will be with me until the day I die.
All that was left to do now was eat supper. Seemingly, we have ended up on a land-based cruise ship. The chef came by our table once everyone was served. This is his first time off the big island of Hawaii. When he discovered Struggles and Charcoal are from Maui, they started looking for degrees of separation. Struggles knows island chefs from her years of managing Mama’s Fish House. Degrees of separation is only one.
EFG