April 24
We rested until around 9 AM with the two mules very happy to be tied to an old hay van and Issy in the portable pen Burton had built for me.

Looking through my camera lens I realized we looked like a band of Gypsies.
But, we were all comfortable and the weather was great with no cold wind since we were on the Mojave Desert floor.

By noon, I saddled up Issy and rode out towards Cottonwood Creek Bridge. I crossed into the Los Angeles & California Aqueducts right of way, massive concrete ditches that allow PCT goers access along it’s berms for 9 miles. Trail hikers and riders can take the dusty roads through residential homes if they prefer. The aqueduct is closed for the most part ferrying water to the millions of consumers in L.A. but not allowing the few hundred hikers or equestrians’ access.

At every road crossing there were 4 sided pipe gates which Issy hated. These fixed in place almost knee high pipe guards were just small enough for a small horse to step through but a bigger horse couldn’t stride through. Issy opted to jump the whole thing and consistently did that very well. It only took 4 of these for me to know that I did not like the risk of potential injury so I turned back for camp. I and decided to ride into Cottonwood Creek from 170th St. later in the afternoon.

When I got back Dick and Gill decided not to go the last 40 miles with me since so much of it was desert. They are going to head home in the morning.