2/27/14 – 115 miles.
On a sweet fragrance meter I would be two levels below the cow pie. The flies flock to me over anything on the trail. It is sad to say but at times I can hardly stand my own smell. And my trail angels / support crew, Richard and Dianna, are coming to pick me up tomorrow to take me off the trail a day or two. I hope I can clean up a bit before I get in their nice clean car.
It is no wonder I’m tired tonight; I walked 20 miles today. The trail was pretty easy with only gentle hills and smooth path. I think this section was laid out with mountain bikes in mind because the trail wound around every knoll and wash like someone would drop spaghetti on a plate. There were a lot of useless turns and twists that didn’t get you anywhere, only to make it fun for the bikes.
The vegetation has changed now that I have come down out of the mountains. It was a garden of Prickly Pear, Ocotillo, and Creosote bush for many miles, so I couldn’t find a place to sit in the shade when I wanted a break.
I’m camped just north of I10 near the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead. Gabe was one of those killed at the event with Gabrielle Giffords in 2011 and this area is a memorial to him. The only other interesting thing today was the tunnel the AZT uses to go under I10. It is 6’W x7’H and very long. Cool!
I’m tired.
How neat you’re out hiking the AZT, Castaway! I bet the Arizona desert is very pretty this time of year and quite bearable. I love Ocotillos. All those prickly, spindly ‘arms’… I used to enjoy seeing them near Phoenix and then heading north towards GRCA, they’d run out of habitat and be gone. Enjoy your walk!
Yep. We might have to strap you on top. I’ve got a feeling that the sun roof and all the windows will be open all the way home.