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CDT Days 20-22: And Then the Rains Came
Wait, it’s going to rain this whole section!? This realization didn’t fully hit me until I had started north out of Pie Town, and I was very excited. Thunderstorm hiking is hands down my favorite to hike in, and in this area I didn’t have to worry about being up on exposed ridges yet. It was a special treat, and a far cry from the bone dry section just prior.
As it poured that first night and into the morning, I questioned if my paper-thin ground tarp and poncho tent could keep me dry. Realizing they were actually working quite well, I lay there watching big rain drops fall and waiting for a break to pack up for the day. The feeling of fog engulfing me was soothing.
It didn’t take long for the saturated dirt road I was heading down to form heavy mud bricks on the bottom of my shoes. Two bikepackers came by and said hello, taking a moment to walk beside me and giving me enough time to see that their setups were now half mud half metal. But they only had about 4 miles to the pavement, hikers do a get a short detour of real trail before heading back to the road walking.
The stark views that ensued kept my mind more preoccupied that it had been, and the miles floated by as I got closer and closer to the storm in the close distance. A gray fox with newly-caught prey meandered through the trees as I reveled in how breathtaking the desert is during a storm.
As the winds started to pick up and the air got heavier, the excitement of the weather pulsed through me. I could now clearly see lightning and hear thunder within relatively short succession, so I took shelter in some low trees for a snack break and to watch the show. It didn’t take long for the fast-moving front to blow a safe distance away from me. I continued on, belting some classic from the country group now known as The Chicks. In this rural landscape, I craved their freeing words that seemed to encapsulate America and its quintessential outdoor and human landscapes in such a way that was both true and loving. Why can’t America be that– why can’t we condemn war and still cherish our American ideals, like this group of ladies did? Why did we buy into the idea that we cannot?
Thirty or so paved miles of walking later, I was again ready to be in a town and do anything but walk awkwardly sideways on a steep highway shoulder. Large mesas and rock formations guided me through it, as I tried not to get too overly eager for the vegetables on a Subway sandwich and a cold beer with lime. Many podcasts, songs, and phone calls later I was finally in Grants, NM, which has much more of a big-city vibe than anywhere else so far on the CDT. Arriving at the quaint hostel, I am grateful for the familiar faces such as Bullwinkle and the escape from the slowly decomposing buildings that lined the main road of the town. There is an air here too of an American dream that was stolen from us, and I wish for everyone that they’d give it back.
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Comments 6
Kelly,
Our son is a few miles ahead of you and your posts give us much more info than he does, but we know he’s having a great time. If you catch up to Blake from Alaska tell him Buster Nemo Mom and Dad say hi!
Be safe
Mom and Dad
Haha : ) I can understand that! I am typically very to myself with my thruhiking, but decided to share this time as I am also fundraising while on my hike! I’m sure he’s having too much fun to put into words. I will say hello if I see him. Cheers
He’s holed up at Grant’s too for weather and hopefully you bump into him because we sent him a HUGE box of “trail magic” that I know he’ll be giving away. I really enjoy your posts and am so jealous of your adventures. Due to ankle injury I had to stop hiking in my twenties and took up bicycling with my last big trip on the Southern Tier, St Augustine to San Diego. Alas life can catch up with you and force you to adjust your dreams – a bit. Take time today and really be thankful for what your doing, it’s truly a blessing and well worth the many sacrifices your making to achieve it. I worked cruise ships for many years carrying old sorry / regretful sorry people that never experienced life and this beautiful planet until that one two week cruise in their eighties toting an oxygen bottle and a pack full of regret.
Unlike my peers, most of whom have passed, I find solace in my aging years remembering such adventures from my youth and hearing of people like you taking up the challenge and sharing it.
Next time you bag is wet, you get a blister, run low on water or you take a wrong turn and half to back track; be so thankful! Some day you’ll be me, or even worse you could be a government worker in a cubicle!
Go Get em!!!
Haha, I do not take it for granted, because of my dad who became suddenly disabled when I was 10. He was the one who initially introduced me to outdoor recreation. He passed this week, so I will be delayed by 4 days now so indeed I may run into your son.
Keep biking, cheers
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. I spent most of my career at sea before cell phones and getting life’s news, deaths births weddings special moments when your distant and a lone is very hard thing to deal with. Being parents of very advantageous kids, we know how incredibly proud your Dad is of your accomplishments and that feeling as a parent is so wonderful. I know! When ever I have such a loss I always have great big cry…ballywood style cry, because it helps me feel so much better afterwards – snot filled nose, swollen eyes sometimes a headache, but a heart healing cry. Some people get annual anniversary crys too. Hope your able to be with family soon help them and yourself to start the grieving process.
Blake’s GPS has him about a day out of Cuba, he seems to be doing about 19 miles/day. Thunder storms forecast for next few days.
Be safe, be happy and it may be tough going for a while, but just think about how lucky you are to be on this adventure and know your Dad is watching! I have LOTS of people watching me… comes with age!
Thanks Scott. He was very proud of me carrying on his adventurous spirit. I agree. I’m doing about 25 miles/day so, I’ll see him in Colorado then!