Posted by 14.6 miles (23.5km)
Away by 6:30am again to push out the 14 mile road bash into Silver City. A very uneventful day that just felt like a transition day, putting in the road miles because I had to.
The road was tough and unrelenting on the feet. A narrow bitumen shoulder which was hard with an off camber edge to move onto when traffic was coming past. Walking on an angle always sucks.
X-Ray was out in front early on and I was gaining on him. A few miles in, a car headed in the opposite direction pulls over next to him. They exchange a few short words and it then pulls up next to me. They are headed to pick up another hiker and offer me a ride in to town on their return. I declined choosing to maintain a continuous footpath.
A while later, that same car coming back, pulls over next to X-Ray again. He throws his pack in the back and jumps in. I have the road to myself. Looks like there are a bunch of hikers choosing to skip long road sections this year. That’s three I know of in the last 12 hours. It’s all about having a continuous foot path for me. There are a bunch of alternative routes on the CDT that I will take, including the Gila River Alternative coming up, that still leads to a continuous footpath.
I made 10 miles by 10am which is always a strong accomplishment. Admittedly it is easier when walking on roads.
The pace was good and I eventually arrived into Silver City albeit with sore feet from the unchanging road surface.
On my way into ‘CBD’ I pulled up for five minutes finding shade and lush green grass in a small park. An elderly lady walking her dog came over and asked me if I was walking the trail. We had a brief chat about the trail and she departed leaving me with one of the juiciest tangerines. It hit the spot.
From the park I headed straight to the brewery for a beer and a proper feed, then finding my way to my motel only to fine that I can not check in yet. It’s a busy night with graduations apparently with all of the motel rooms booked and they are doing their best to get rooms ready. I had one night booked but was meant to book two. While there is no room here tomorrow that is good thing as the Motel 6 is just shitty and forced me to look elsewhere. Broken tap in room, no laundry detergent available and the clothes drier is down! Doing the laundry is such a necessity when passing through town. Lashing out and upgrading to the Best Western tomorrow about 50m away.
Mick Beckers 