I pulled out of Summerhaven about 1 o’clock and headed over Oracle Ridge on a cold windy day. I was surprised at the lack of water on Oracle Ridge, especially given how wet it was just south of Summerhaven. The trail included a lot of little ups and downs and I wasn’t moving too fast. I set up camp about 8 miles out of town even though it meant dry camping with little water. I had left Summerhaven with only a quart and a half but I knew I could make do for the evening and until I hit water in the morning.

When I did hit the water it had some pretty intense plant growth in it. I think it was some sort of white algae, but nevertheless, I filtered the water and was grateful to have something to drink. Later that evening I had some intestinal pain, and I think it was perhaps from that water, especially because I’ve since met a woman who felt kind of ill since drinking out of the same source. It surprises me a bit since I certainly drank out of much worse sources. Luckily my discomfort did not last more than that one evening.

During this stretch, the eclipse happened. It wasn’t a very big deal here. The darkest it got reminded me of when I was walking through large smoky sections on the Continental Divide Trail. I had expected more than that, but still, I was grateful for the lowering of temperature and increase in the wind as I had some big climbs that day. The spectacular flowers more than made up for the lack of eclipse.

I’ve been working to cultivate curiosity. Rather than bemoaning each day getting out of my warm cozy sleeping bag into the frigid early morning temperatures, I try to start each day by saying “I wonder what experiences I’ll have today. I wonder who I’ll meet and what new things will come my way.” That helps me look forward to the day rather than feeling, “oh no another day of walking.”

One day, enjoying the company of a trail angel named “snake”, who was taking the empty water bottles out of the cachebox, I was surprised to find two hikers who I thought were long ahead of me. Another day. I surprised myself by walking 22 miles. I did this part because of the water situation but even once I got to the water at the 20 mile mark, I wasn’t thrilled with the camping so I just kept walking until I felt like stopping. Luckily, the walking that day was not too rocky and about us level as it gets. I was certainly hurting that evening, but it felt good to know I still had it in me to walk that big a day.

I encountered the first of a number of rain collectors that the Arizona Trail has erected to provide water for hikers. These spaceship structures can be spotted sometimes from a few miles off, and they provide clear water for most of the hikers on the trail.

One day my water source was a tank that I reached at about the 10 mile mark. The only problem was that while I could see the tank, it was still about a quarter mile off the trail and I just didn’t feel like walking up there to get the water. Rather than agonizing over itI sat and had lunch at the junction working on my curiosity, wondering what would happen. Would I get the water? Would I not get the water? Would someone come along I could coerce to get it for me?

Sure enough Retro, who was the hiker who called me a legend, came along and readily accepted my offer to trade him some food in exchange for his getting water for me. Since he was going up to the tank anyway, it turned out to be a win-win for both of us.

I camped that night at a cow tank near a number of other hikers. They were concerned about the cows, but when I saw how skittish even the bull was, I didn’t give a second thought about my safety. After making a bunch of noise at us, the cows all left us alone for the evening.

Another day, my water source was from a wildlife water collector, and again some of the younger guys offered to drop down in and get the water for me.

This entire area was full of spectacular flowers. I saw the first of many cactus blooming with large fuchsia flowers that could be spotted from quite a distance away. I also encountered a hive of bees near the trail. some of them buzzed near my face as I walked by, but they, basically left me alone.

One day, as I was doing my daily chore of sweeping out my tent, I thought of all the detritus we carry. I keep trying to get my weight down, and I sweep out my tent every morning, and of course this got me thinking about all the emotional things I still can sweep away. I thought about how in my previous marriage my ex carried so much detritus and never swept it away or talked with me about and just kept saving it up and saving it up until it became so big he ran away. It got me thinking about the importance of good communication and not holding onto our hurts and traumas too intensely. I really enjoy taking the time to sweep out my tent every morning, starting each day with a clean slate and I’m determined to do this with all the people in my life.

I knew I was going to go into Kearney to supply, but I did not know that I would encounter Gary the trail angel who would meet me at the trail and give me a ride into town nor did I know that I would be offered a place to stay by Que, a trail Angel in Kearney who even allowed hikers to stay at our home when she was out of town for a while.

I was thrilled to learn that I had been given special status and had the bedroom while the other hikers there slept on the floor of other rooms. I guess there’s some advantage to being an old lady, but perhaps the biggest advantage is that I’ve learned not to worry and instead to cultivate the curiosity about what’s gonna happen next and if this last stretch is any indication I have some wonderful experiences yet to encounter. I look forward to finding out what they are.