2/28/14 – 122 miles.
With the threat of nasty weather moving into the area, I hiked 7 miles to a picnic area below Colossal Cave where Richard and Dianna rescued me from the trail. It was a well planned and well timed pickup. I needed to resupply, replace a plugged water filter, do laundry, get a permit to hike through Saguaro National Park, and cleans the grime and sweat from my body.
After hiking for several days and eating dried food I am always hungry for something greasy, so the first thing we did was stop at a Carl’s and get a big juicy burger and fries. Then with my belly full we went to a Flying J where I could take a long steamy shower, much overdue after five days on the trail. The lady at the counter kept asking if we wanted a “team shower?”, but Richard and I assured her that we didn’t want to take a shower together. We finally figured out that she was talking about a truck driver “rewards” program for free showers.
We stopped at several places on the south side of Tucson where I looked for a new filter, but no one had what I was looking for. We ended up driving all the way across town to an REI in the Tucson Mall to find one. The detour to the other side of town gave us the opportunity to revisit the old neighborhood where we spent time growing up so many years ago. Even though things have changed a lot, it still brings back memories.
When we finally made it back to their trailer, Dianna fed me one of her delicious meals and we sat around watching TV until sleepiness overtook me at the abnormally, early hour for hikers. It has been so nice having them near to help me on and off the trail.
Tonight I am staying in Richards truck. The sleeper equipped Volvo he pulls his house with is a luxurious apartment compared to a night in my tent, and I will be warm and dry in the morning.
Did you have any rain in the night? It’s dry at my house, but Gilbert is claiming a downpour.
We had a few sprinkles, and it’s spitting rain off and on now at 4:00 PM., after sunshine this PM. I would hate to be a weather forecaster in this area.
Yes, some rain. I’m sure Dale will update you when he can but we went to the Titan Missile Museum, Tubac and Tumacacori yesterday. We dropped him off about 11 this morning at the same place we picked him up near Colossal Cave. He’s on the trail again.