[Bloated Chipmunk]

In need of a quickie weekend getaway, I headed north to the town of Idyllwild. I'd hoped that the shaded trails @ higher elevation would be a tad cooler but nah, wasn't really much different. Nevertheless it was a nice diversion & I was able to meet up w/SA Rafael so that's always fun. After arriving in Idyllwild, I stopped by the ranger station & then headed up the Deer Springs Trail for just a short bit as it was way too hot for anything much further.

Hot hike

Stats

Then, I checked into my room @ the Bluebird Cottage Inn.

The room

View out the rm

I showered up & a lil while later Rafael showed up. We went to Manzanita Cantina for dinner.

Dinner w/Rafael

In the morning we went out for b'fast, then walked around the shops in town. Still hot, but easier than trying to do a hike in the heat! Yeah, my hiking plans for this trip kinda went out the window after that 1st day of heat.

B'fast w/Rafael

Tourist shot w/Rafael

We said our goodbyes & later that evening, once it finally cooled down, I walked from the cottage into town to the Idyllwild Brewpub where I did not get a beer as one would expect, but a marg since they actually had them.

Marg

Oh, & some ice cream.

Marg & ice cream

I texted one of these pics to ppl back home, & later SA The Tease would say "oh, tell me next time you're going!" like he'd actually commit to going w/me. Walked back a slightly different way past cabins in the trees, & a sign about a drug-free school zone (as opposed to one that does indeed have drugs?).