I left Roosevelt Lake later than I wanted to for no reason except I was enjoying my time there. It was after nine before I started the steep, long climb out of the marina. Luckily Becky had offered to break up my seven day food carry so I only had to carry food for just over 40 miles or about 2 1/2 days. We made arrangements for her to bring the other five days to where the trail crosses the road near Payson. That definitely made the climb easier, but on top of being steep, it was already quite hot. It wasn’t long before I thought “oh my God I can’t do this.” But as I learned a long time ago, these are the times when I have to focus on just putting one foot in front of the other. I took a break, supercharged with one of my caffeinated electrolyte drinks and sure enough one step at a time brought me up to a ridge where I was able to camp for the night, having completed 15 miles for that day!

I was surprised when I got there to find another couple my age already camped there. They graciously welcomed me to share the spot and it was fun to talk with some other hikers my age. These two were out for a week. They had done a large section of the trail already and now were piecing together the rest of it.

The next day when I reached the spring where I was going to have lunch, I was surprised to find another geezer couple going by the names of Young and Younger. These two people in their 70s were doing their first long hike, and I was impressed by their spunk. It was fun to hike the rest of that day on and off with these two couples.

I was glad that I wasn’t pulled into a place of feeling sorry for myself that I didn’t have a partner. It made me realize I was getting better at cultivating really enjoying spending time with myself, enjoying my own company. As I contemplated what that meant I could feel the hurt little girl inside of me. I tried to really connect with her to get to know her as a person and to have us enjoy each other’s company.

The trail eased up for a while, and it was such a relief not to have to think about where to put every foot I realized how most of us go through life not having to think about where we’re walking most of the time. And I thought of all the people who do have to struggle with every step they take and just how mentally exhausting that is. That’s so many of the folks I know who struggle to walk, seldom if ever complain. I offered up gratitude to the universe as I walked along some lovely flatter, rock-free miles.

I was also aware that there was a big change in the environment around me. The Seguro cactuses had disappeared, It reminded me again that if we just keep moving. One foot in front of the other things will change in life. We might not always be happy about the change just as I’m going to miss those majestic cactus, but on the other hand I am glad to be moving forward. I’m not going to fight the change and hopefully this lesson will serve me well as I continue to age. I’ll just keep leaning into it and see what will be ahead.

I actually arrived at the meeting spot where I was to meet Becky with plenty of time to spare. When she heard I was going to be ahead of schedule she arranged to leave my box in a tree by the side of the trail and she texted me information about where to find it. She told me I could take what I needed out of it and leave the trash for her to pick up on her way back through. It really is a wonderful life when you come from a place of kindness and when you’re the recipient of as much kindness as I have been from all these trail angels.



As I am really cultivating enjoying my own company I’m trying to get that message of a wonderful life down to that little girl who still feels sad because she never has experienced unconditional love in her life. With any luck by the end of this trail, she and I will be enveloped in each other’s unconditional love.