WEEK 6 ON THE TRAIL

Week 6 sees me attack my calorie deficit, take a six-mile detour to avoid passionate toads, and walk in the footsteps of Captain Kirk! Getting enough calories inside me is a constant problem. As my milage increases, so my calorie consumption gets higher, but there is a limit to the amount of food I can carry.  So resupply stops in town offer the added bonus of :town food", usually not the kind of food that I would eat at home, but calorie laden and filling - what's not to like. At a resupply in the town of Soledad Canyon, I took the opportunity to top up. And I was extra hungry, after a six-mile detour, walking along a road, to avoid part of the PCT that has been designated as a protected area!  Apparently, a threatened species of toad, the Arroyo, has decided to mate along this section, and we hikers cannot be allowed to dampen their passion. I also had a very interesting hike through an area called Vasquez Rocks.  The rock formations and geology in the area make this part of the trail very popular for film locations.  Indeed, so unworldly does it look, 3 episodes of the original series of Star Trek had parts filmed here - beam me up Scotty!

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The road detour to avoid passionate toads.

Blow downs sometimes don't get all the way down.

Yuccas, some in flower, some bearing fruit. The fruit is edible and tasty, something like a cross between a radish and cucumber - would go will with Hendricks gin and tonic.

Yucca Fruit

Tourists on top of part of Vasquez Rocks

A California mountain king snake. Not venomous, but they still bite. 

Good work from the Pacific Crest Trail volunteers

Working hard on the calorie deficit.

Calorie deficit rectified!

Sightseeing at Vasquez Rocks.

Vasquez Rocks - Looking for Captain Kirk!

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That's all for now my friends!