*** My apologies for the gap in posts! The last few weeks of hiking had few town stops and infrequent cell service!***
There are a probably hikers who don't stop in Oracle: it's a couple of miles off trail and right in between Tucson and Superior, plus you have an option for a meal in Summerhaven. It's spread out and doesn't have a true grocery store. The town's disappointments are soon forgotten once you meet and experience the hospitality of Marney and Jim at the Oracle Chalet.
We'd read on the AZT phone app from other hikers that Marney, the owner of the Chalet, would pick you up at the trailhead when you get to Oracle State Park. When we were in Tucson, I'd gotten a text from Red Shirt Guy that Oracle didn't have the fuel were all using and also that the Chalet was not to be missed. So, when I called the chalet to make a reservation and spoke with Marney, I'd asked about fuel. She said, "you know, some hikers left some fuel in the hiker box - I'll pull it out and set it aside for you!" We were still 3 days away, she didn't know me and was already providing trail magic.
When we got to the Oracle State Park register, there was a business card with Marney's name, number and a note that said, 'call me when you get to the trailhead and I'll pick you up.'
Because of our high-jinx ranch detour, we were on track to be a day behind what we had told Marney. I'd checked my phone that evening to tell her we'd be delayed and there was already a text from her. 'You girls ok?' The city girl in me figured she just wanted to fill the room ... I was wrong. She actually just wanted to make sure we were ok. I told her we'd be in first thing and she said to call her when we got to the road. We did, and as It so happened, she was already en route dropping other hikers off.
When we pulled up to the Chalet, Sean - our friend from Vail - was sitting in front of his room, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer. "How?!" I asked jokingly. He'd been behind us since we left him in Summerhaven, but Sean is a fast hiker and had been picked up by Marney early that morning at the trailhead where we met Jeff and Wendy the evening before.
By hiker standards, the Chalet is about as good as it gets. Aside from the expected showers and a bed, there are free laundry facilities with clean loaner clothes, a hiker room where hikers can give and take as needed from food to gear, and Marney and her husband Jim offer themselves as chauffeurs to Thru-hikers, driving us to get meals, buy re-supply and to and from the trail. And when they weren't busy shuttling or accommodating hikers, they were there for a chat - sincerely interested in everyone who came through.
If Marney didn't exist, I'm not sure there would be much hope for the town of Oracle. It's an otherwise pretty lackluster place that is too spread out to be appealing to those on foot and too small to be worth the trip in a car. We did manage to find good food though, with Marney's recommendations.
After the laundry and showers were done, Wildflower, Sean and I set out to eat our way through Oracle. First: pizza.
One for now, one to wrap in foil and carry out on our next section!
Then we added trail angel, Mulley, to our group for dinner. She was shuttling some friends to the border on down time she had before heading back to Canada to her job in Forest Restoration. She had hiked the PCT last year and was paying the trail magic forward. It was becoming clear to me that once you've done this Thing of Thru-hiking, there was a sense of always being, in some way, On Trail.
Eating the 'Biggest Burrito in the World' which actually might have been the best, if not the biggest.
The next morning Marney drove us out to The Patio, a hidden gem of a restaurant/market where you can purchase local goods, fruits and veggies after your delicious meal (and pie!!!!). The fun thing about knowing you will be burning a good 5,000 calories a day for the foreseeable future opens your dining options up a bit. (Did you hear there was pie?)
Biscuits and gravy, fruit, coffee and... Pie!!! Not sure who the guy is outside, but he had a cute dog
We lingered a bit longer at the Chalet before finally admitting there was nothing left to do but hike. Sean would join us 'just for the day' as he said, and the three of us jumped in Marney's truck. She drove us to where she'd picked us up the day before and before leaving said, "I tell all my clients - if you really get yourself in trouble out there, call me - I'll come and get you."