Nomad Life - Day 87

I woke up early (0400) but it was still dark and the rain was coming down heavily - as a result, I went back to sleep.  The next thing I knew, it was 0830!  Hoping not to miss the complimentary coffee & pastries, I got ready (high level) and went to the Sierra Pelona Motel lobby (0845).  The owner gave me some more sparkling waters (three cans this time!).  We talked for a little bit but I felt like returning to my room to make plans.  Unfortunately, it was still raining steadily so I spent the rest of the morning reading, doing puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises.  With lots of free time, I decided it would be a good idea to update my Shutterfly photo albums (preserving photos from July to date) and catching up on blog entries.  For accompaniment, the amorous neighbors continued their activities and I was forced to don headsets to try to stay focused.  As a result, I didn't realize they'd departed their room until hours later.  After that, the Motel got very quiet.  I found the internet to be very spotty - very glad I hadn't planned to work here during the coming week... I made lunch for myself in the room (1300) and hunkered down while the rain continued.  I'd set a 1500 deadline for doing something (anything, really) by 1500 - there was a winery nearby, at least.  Imagine my satisfaction, then, when that time arrived and the rain had stopped!  Quickly getting ready and jumping into Nessie, I drove from the Motel back to the junction of Agua Dulce Canyon Road and the Sierra Highway.  Near there, I turned north on Mint Canyon Road and subsequently found the PCT Trailhead on Peterson Road.  After parking there (1515), I walked north on the PCT, which consisted of a dirt track through a Powerline Slash.  While I was climbing, I was still following the edge of what I later learned was a canyon in the Sierra Pelona Mountains.  The trail was muddy and slick but kept going until I found a road crossing.  It rained intermittently but I used my umbrella, which is about all the gear I'd brought.  Sadly, I couldn't get an official name for this intersection/trailhead but I'm calling it the "East branch of Anthony Road / Letteau Mountainway".  I did figure out that I'd walked two miles from my car and it looked like I could follow the dirt road back to the car.  Initially (for about a mile), I made good progress with this plan but then ran into "private property" signs for what I later determined was the Agua Dulce Movie Rranch.  The discovery made sense later because I kept encountering old or destroyed cars, shady looking buildings and other items that could work well in a dystopian or apocalyptic feature.  With some effort, I managed to get around the signs and fences and ended up back on the PCT close to where I'd left my car. Not wanting to finish my walk yet, I continued SOBO on the PCT towards the center of Agua Dulce.  Unlike earlier, this section was completely a road walk.  Meanwhile (1645), it was getting dark.  Despite the darkening skies and continued threat of rain, I was pleased to make it all the way to Darling Road, where I'd turned around the evening before, before starting back north.  Fortunately, there was a very large shoulder and this prevented cars from getting too close (or annoyed at my being near the road).  It also wasn't very cold... Without any traffic lights (and no flashlight), I managed to make it back to Mint Canyon by 1755.  By then, I'd logged about 7.5 miles of hiking!  Feeling pretty satisfied, I drove back to the motel.  Despite still having sketchy internet, I got some more Shutterfly transfers completed by setting my phone in the window sill.   For dinner, I prepared some macaroni & cheese in my room.  During the rest of my waking hours, I read, relaxed and blogged - it felt good to make so much progress!  As I was getting ready for bed (2230), it started raining heavily again.  It looks like I weathered the "Atmospheric River" without too much trouble.  Heading north in the morning!  PCT Today = 4.3 miles / Grant Total PCT = 13.0 miles