Vaccinated in Tehachapi (PCT Day 39-40)

We find Tehachapi to be a pleasant trail town, likely our favorite thus far. We start our day by getting breakfast at Kelcy’s Restaurant, which is a short walk from our hotel. The air has cooled since yesterday, and we all feel good about our choice to zero and rest today.

At the diner, Lupine and Siracha order Huevos Rancheros, I order waffles with strawberries and whip cream, and Chef orders the Machaca and eggs. We each get freshly squeezed orange juice. Tehachapi continues to make a good impression.

Before we leave, two other hikers wander in. It’s Hot Rocks and Chuck Wagon. They are staying next door at the Santa Fe. We originally planned to stay there but changed our mind based on reviews describing it as “filthy, even by hiker standards”. We ask them how it is.

“It’s a fleabag” Hot Rocks responds. We all laugh. Hot Rocks always seems to have a way with words that cause us to laugh. He and Chuck Wagon are planning to return to the trail today. We leave them to eat, and hope to see them up trail.

After breakfast and some relaxing in the hotel, Lupine and Siracha head to Albertsons to restore some hiking supplies. They are also planning to visit the pharmacy to enquire about COVID vaccines. We read in the paper that vaccinations are low in Tehachapi, and that doses are often leftover. We all hope to claim one of those leftover doses.

Chef and I hang back in the hotel room. Soon, Lupine calls me.

“They have one extra vaccine down here at Albertsons. You should come down here. Chef might be able to try Walgreens” Lupine says.

Chef and I hop up and walk down the street, splitting up with separate destinations. When I arrive to Albertsons, Lupine is sitting outside the pharmacy and I tap her arm to get her attention. “Ouch” she says. She’s already gotten her shot, and her arm is sore. She hands me the medical form for me to complete and I turn it into the pharmacist, then sit and wait my turn. Lupine, decides to go pick up some groceries as I await my shot.

I can’t believe we’re getting vaccinated. There’s a sense of excitement and relief as I await. I look around and notice shoppers wandering around the store, not bothering to even pretend wearing masks. A couple stands at the meat counter, talking to the butcher, no masks anywhere to be seen.

I don’t understand the resistance. Masks may not be comfortable, but they are a minor inconvenience. I don’t mind wearing one. During the time I’ve been wearing one over the past year, I haven’t gotten sick even once. Not a cold, not a flu, not covid-19. I’d consider wearing a mask in public settings going forward, even if the pandemic wanes.

The pharmacist calls my name and I walk into a small room. She shuts the door behind me and I sit in a plastic chair. Boxes are stacked beside me. I unbutton my shirt and reveal my shoulder. It’s swabbed, and then a small poke. All of a sudden I’ve been vaccinated. After over a year of concern, I have an extra layer of security.

As I walk around the store I notice more people without masks. The store has signs posted, declaring “masks are mandatory”, but clearly those signs are being ignored. I’m comforted to know these choices of others will now pose less risk to me. But I’m frustrated. I notice all of the employees are wearing masks. These people must be here to do their job, and make money. They have to serve each customer to do their job, wether that customer is wearing a mask or not. It’s disrespectful to put those employees at risk.

I’m happy to leave the grocery store, and Lupine and I walk on the sidewalk back to the hotel, where we meet up with Siracha and Chef. They were not able to get a vaccine today, but plan to try tomorrow morning. We spend the evening watching Avengers on cable TV, and lounging around eating food. It begins to rain outside and we are thankful to be indoors.

Lupine cooks us some German Spätzl, she bought from the german bakery yesterday. Too cold to go outside she fires up the camp stove in the bathroom. She splits it among each of us, and we devour it, commenting on it’s deliciousness.

It rains all night long.

In the morning, Chef and Siracha head to Walgreens at 8 am. Lupine and I head to the German bakery to start our day with coffee and some baked goods. I get a raspberry danish, and Lupine and I split a nut bun. Everything is delicious. The raspberries are fresh and tart, perfectly matched with the smoothness of the cream cheese. I could eat 3 of these.

Siracha and Chef get lucky, both scoring a vaccination. They meet us at the German bakery, and we all celebrate our good luck. We follow-up our baked goods with breakfast at Kelcy’s again, sitting in the same booth as yesterday.

On our way back to the hotel, it’s cold and rainy. We can see our breath as we breathe. We run into several hikers who were previously behind us, as they catch up, arriving into town. We make plans to return to the trail tomorrow, and we look forward to the Sierras, now soon in our future.