Big Bear Lake

I jump a hitch to Big Bear Lake, the driver asks where do you want to go? I have no idea buddy just drop me off at the Big Bear Brewery and I’ll figure it out from there. I’m good at winging it at this point in my life.

I arrive around 10AM. They are closed, I walk around the corner and poke into the market/liquor store. I grab a fresh Gatorade and a snack and strike up a conversation with the guy behind the counter. Everyone’s been super friendly.

He says everything is within this small area, all the shops, restaurants etc. He says there is also a free mountain shuttle that will drive me the few miles up the road to Vons. I’ll grab a food resupply at Vons and a new isobutane can at the Big 5 tomorrow.

Across the street is the Robinhood Resort, I stumble in and speak to the gentleman at the front desk. “Hi sir I’m curious if you have any availability and what the rates are?”

Him- “Yes we have availability, where’s your accent from? Are you a thru hiker?”

Me- “Boston MA sir, and yessir I’m a thru hiker.”

Him- “I was going to go to college for my post grad in Boston but went to Penn instead.”

Me- “Right on sir, both are great schools.”

He was nice enough to give me a discount as a thru hiker and on top of that he gives me the lay of the land. There’s a polar plunge in support of the Special Olympics across the street. He asks if I’m down to participate, you know what. Why not, I’m not against a polar plunge, if I was home in Plymouth I’d be doing it daily anyways.

After checking in I drop my gear off and take a needed shower I head over to the post office to grab my package and get the run around from the guy behind the counter. “It’s not here yet.” it says delivered an hour ago to this post office but I can’t pick it up? It’s 11:30AM and they close at noon, come on.

It’s now noon thirty and I get a text from USPS I can now pick up my package. I sprint across the street, and they’re closed. Like posted they closed at noon. I’m here till Monday.

Since I am waiting on gear to be delivered, I have no agenda, no plans, and I guess I am here to just relax for a day, eat food and see the sites of Big Bear. If I wasn’t hiking, I’d go skiing, but I don’t have the proper clothes for that.

I walk the small neighborhood and debate what to get for lunch. Do I get noodles, pizza, Mexican, Indian or a burger? I seriously debate getting noodles and remember the last time I went to get noodles with someone. It was at a dinner where I decided to tell the person I was dating “hey I’m going to go MIA for 5 months and hike the PCT…” It went over as expected I guess. I will actually say, I give her credit it was the most mature I have seen someone act in probably 4-5 relationships to be honest. Overall, nothing but respect for that person. If you ever read this I hope you have an amazing time diving with whale sharks next month! Jealous. Ahh the one who got away.

I opted for a pizza instead. BBQ chicken it is and a side of spuds. I grab a seat at the bar and order a tall Sprite with it. The bartender asks if I want some Tito’s with it. No sir, just Sprite on the rocks.

Overall the waiters and waitresses are friendly, the vibes good and the foods good. I don’t need anything else. The fries come out first, they’re steak fries, wasn’t expecting that. Nice! It’s been a while since I’ve had some good steak fries. I also hear potato’s are high in potassium and other vitamins. I definitely need that for how much energy I’ve been burning.

After I finish my pizza it’s off to chill. I want to check out the bus schedule and see what the best time is to get to Vons, the Big 5 and somewhere to grab some post cards.

I really love sending post cards, I’ve always sent my self post cards from my world travels. They’re all in a collage frame randomly dumped in there in my bedroom. It probably goes back 20 years. If anyone wants one as I travel, send me your address and I’ll put you on the mailing list! Stacy from Banning, yours is in the mail! Thanks again for all your help!

I decide to skip the Big 5 today and just hit Vons. Which means I get on the Mountain Bus and take the 9 minute trip through Big Bear Lake. Vons is Vons like every other grocery store. People open mouth coughing, standing in the middle of the aisles in the way, cutting in line. Being completely normal in a miserable civilization. It makes me say grab your stuff and get back into the woods buddy. Natures scary as fuck, but it makes more sense on why.

After I check out with my stuff and head out for the bus stop. I wait maybe ten minutes and say screw it I’ll walk. It’s only 1.3 miles, as I walk the distance in 15$ sandals I stop at dollar tree, Walgreens, McDonalds for some salt and pepper packets and then Taco Bell for some sauces.

When I get back to my room I finish off a Caesar salad I grabbed on the way back also. It was a baffling display of a Caesar to be honest. They put tomato’s and pasta on a Caesar salad. Mad? Meeh, Confused? Absolutely.

I toss on some tv and get ready for bed. Tomorrow AM I finish up my errands and meet back up with Seven. He’s a day behind.

I wake up and skip the bus and walk the mile the Big 5. It says they open at 10 but it’s 9:15AM and I walked right in. The lights still semi off but I got my shopping done. Awesome! This is how it should always be. Smooooth sailing.

After the Big Five I meet Seven out front and it’s off for some lunch. For a tall skinny kid he can put some chow down. Since we’re still in SoCal I think, Mexican it is. Start it off with some chips and a do it your self salsa bar. Tacos and fajitas afterwards and a nice margarita to wash it down.

We do a 3 day resupply and discuss how we’re going to navigate the 100 miles of fire closures. Winging it is our plan. I jump on Facebook and start looking for someone to give us a ride back to trail. Tim responds and says I’ll be there in 20 minutes. Perfect for us.

As I leave Big Bear Lake the sign tells me “Well, come back!” And I don’t know when but I’ll definitely be back to Big Bear for sure. Maybe next time it’ll be to go skiing for a long weekend.