Posted by 0 miles
Taking a zero in Grants was just what my body needed. To rest the legs and feet has been amazing and my ankle injury that has plagued me since the Gila River seems to be on the improve. The purchase of proper KT tape and proper strapping has done the world of good.
It’s been interesting watching daily steps on my Garmin watch. An average of 37,000 steps daily over the past few weeks with a record of 55,000. This plummeted today to just 2,500. I did sweet FA other than sleep in, binge watch garbage American television and drink coffee. I even had a bath finding some epsom salts in the hiker box.
The hiker box was actually pretty bloody good and I was able to score a couple of dinners and a tonne of protein bars to assist with resupply.
The SuperStay hotel was an excellent choice with everything that I needed and friendly service. It pays to spend a bit on better motels. Some can be shockers as I found out in Silver City. This was the closest accommodation to the Walmart for a resupply and the manager made sure I had the closest room as well with all of about 200m to walk. Did some much needed laundry at a cost of $4 for a wash and dry and included detergent. There was a spa that I didn’t make use of. I’m all for swimming in my boxers in the backcountry but probably not the best look at a motel. I will continue to stay with this chain if they are located in future towns.
I’m actually saving money out here with a regular half pay salary and housemate rent coming in every fortnight. I’m only in towns every 4 to 6 days and just need the basics – some food, something to drink and somewhere to sleep. And recharge electronics.
Resupply was the main task completed today. A shop for the next leg through to Cuba of around 5 days and a shop for a resupply that I will send to Ghost Ranch tomorrow for another 4 days. With a couple of days food to purchase in Cuba this should see me through to the New Mexico / Colorado border.
I thought about mailing the Ghost Ranch food drop today but it would be close to a 6 mile return walk to the post office, so. nah, I’ll mail this tomorrow on my way back to trail.
The other task I desperately needed to do was located the puncture in my air mattress and repair it. I started with the old spray bottle with soapy water. I covered every inch of the underside and couldn’t find a thing. If a hole were located there the soapy water would bubble indicating the exact spot. It had me buggered so I had to employ method number two – the old bath tub trick. Again, I submerged every inch of the underside of the mattress and came up with squat. This could only mean the hole was on top side which is highly unusual but there are a shit tonne of spiky stuff out here. Sure enough I located a hole on top. Likely a cactus thorn or pine needle that I’d dragged in from a midnight toilet mission. Hole found and repaired. No more blowing mattresses up in the middle of the night.
Of course I bumped into some of the gang on their way back from the super Asian Buffet, namely X-Ray and Pritch. For $15 all you can eat it is the perfect choice. But I’d had my fill the night before and felt like a good old american burger so headed across the road to Dairy Queen and Grill.
Chowdah had a package to pick up at the post also so I’d see him in the morning. Christina headed back to trail this morning as see if section hiking and on deadline to get picked up in Cuba in a couple of days. The other lads would hit the trail early morning tomorrow.
Mick Beckers 