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On town days I never have to set an alarm.
ESPECIALLY when it means a shower for the first time in 10 days. Ugh. Dirt baby. I am a dirt baby. I can’t remember the last time I went this long without a shower on trail.
I packed up, hit the trail and made a goal to make it to Kearny by 1pm. I had 18 miles to smash out.
I listened to my audiobook & stopped for water briefly but I was on a mission.
I made it to the bridge by 1pm and put in a call to the local pizza place in town. They kind of have a cool system. They’ll pick us up from the trailhead if they can spare an employee & we buy a meal there. No one was available but they gave me James’ number – he’s a trail angel that does pick ups and drop offs.
James said he’d be there in 30 min and sure enough he rolled up half an hour later. He was very kind and offered to take me to any of the 3 dining establishments in town and even offered to take me by the trail angels who open their home to us in Kearny
We went to Q&J’s where there was ONE cot left with my name on it. I jokingly asked the hiker who was bunking in the same room if he snored and he laughed and said no.
He didn’t have a trail name yet, but I changed that the next day. His name is now G-Snail. Mostly after the SpongeBob snail named Gary.
G-Snail hopped in the truck with James and I and we went to the pizza place where I was STOKED to discover they not only had fried okra (I. Love. Okra) but also cream soda!
fave cream soda EVER
I guess that’s just gonna be my thing on this 3,000 mile hike-a-thon. Cream-frickin-sodas. I also ordered a giant piece of pizza, and fried pickles.
We went back to Q&J’s where I finally showered. I felt human again. And it was incredible.
I popped into the IGA grocery for a couple resupply bits & bobs and then grabbed dinner with G-Snail & Spud, another hiker who had just rolled in. We went to Buzzy’s where I got a grilled cheese with tomato slices and an order of fried zucchini.
I went to bed with a happy belly listening to thru hikers laughing and sharing life stories outside the bedroom window my cot was in.
my boys Spud & G-Snail
In the morning, I packed up, ate breakfast, and hopped in James’ truck with G-Snail and a couple from South Africa to head back to trail. G-Snail and I set off with a great pace, headed towards the Gila River 12 miles up trail.
G-Snail & the AZT lowest point
When we arrived, avoiding a heartbreaking scene of a dead cow carcass that had gotten trapped in the barbed wire fence near the river – we made our way to a shady spot and soaked our feet. It was heavenly. Not the cleanest river, but it was cold and deep.
Not to mention entertaining. There were trucks and tents and ATVs across the river from us and they were clearly panning for gold. When we asked what they were up to, they insisted they were fishing. People can be funny sometimes.
We hiked about 8 more miles up and over and into a saddle where we made camp by 5pm.
G-Snails tent @ our site for the evening
It is glorious to roll into camp before sunset and have that little bit of time to yourself. To make a leisurely dinner, do a little journaling, and take an in-depth look at the trail for the next day.
It was really nice to have company in camp and G-Snail kinda reminds me of a big brother (if I had one). We definitely make each other laugh and it was fantastic to have a friend to talk to on the hike that day. We went to bed, ready to tackle 18 miles into Superior the next day to stay at one of my favorite Trail Angel’s – MJ’s, for Easter Sunday!
Never stop exploring. Embrace the suck. I. Believe. In. YOU. kk ily <3
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