Day 69- ending of snow?

Last night I camped at 8000 feet and saw a great sunset. Tonight I have witnessed the same. I usually hike until about 8 and then between cooking and setting up camp, by the time I go to bed the sun is setting. But the best thing about today was not the sunset, or my visit to Sierra city. It was the transition from snow... To no snow! Finally! In a normal year I would have been walking on solid trail for over a month. But not in this crazy record year. I descended In many miles from 8000 feet to 4000 feet and highway 49. As I did so I witnessed the snow slowly becoming more and more scarce. Actually as I neared highway 49 it got hotter then I am used to. At the highway I decided to hitchhike the 2 miles into Sierra city, only to find that no one would pick me up. Then finally after over a half hour I got a ride in to town. Sadly it was 3 and since it's a small town none of the restaurants were open except at meal times. Since I was not going to stick around I had to settle for some mediocre, and extremely overpriced hot dogs from the general store. I also got a drink in order to have another waterbottle for the next section and then left town. It was as tough to get a ride out of town as it was into it.'the guy who gave me a ride dropped me off a half mile past the trail so he didn't save me much time. Here I began the steep 8 mile hill. But after the high Sierras and climbing the equivalent of mt hood every day for two weeks, this hill did not stand a chance. At the top I met wet smoke, wiz and one other guy I can't remember. I moved on and camped with an amazing view and made some wonderful new Mexican stew.