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The Great Stair Climb
Being in Arizona, coming from Texas I gained 2 hours (not to mention 6000 feet of elevation.) Which means I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 5:30am ready to start my pre-hike, self-designated zero day in Bisbee.
Bisbee, Arizona was founded in 1880 and by the early 1900s was the largest town in Arizona with a population of 20,000. It also had the state’s first community library which is still up and running today – with the first floor now being the town’s Post Office. The population is down to 7,000 these days but it is absolutely worth a visit.
My friend Diogenes made an apt observation about this ADORABLE town.
It’s like the entire place is a McMenamins
Bisbee, Arizona
Quirky, colorful, crazy, inspiring, and full of unexpected surprises.
For example, “The Bisbee 1000” where you go up 1000 steps on 9 different staircases on a 4.5 mile loop around downtown.
all the stepssss
Which of course I had to do the day before starting my epic walkabout. But if I’m being honest with myself, it was really about something that all thru-hikers will proudly admit.
FOOD
pâtisserie jacqui
When Diogenes and I rolled into town yesterday evening and passed by a Pâtisserie, it was game ON. A French bakery? Sold.
staircase#5 of 9
So after climbing over 1000 stairs before 10am, and stopping to hug a giant rose – I was happily stuffing my face with incredible pastries by 11am, completely guilt-free.
always stop to hug nature
Pastry purchases between Diogenes and myself included but were not limited to: butter croissants, margarita pesto pasty, morning cinnamon bun, burnt brown sugar cookies, pumpkin bread, and my personal favorite: hatch green chile with asparagus pasty.
We rolled ourselves back uphill and of course up more staircases to our Airbnb where I crashed hard into an afternoon nap with Diogenes practicing guitar in the background.
I’m feeling nervous and excited about tomorrow. It’s finally here. I’m ready, but before every big undertaking there’s always some nerves. At this point I see it as a healthy sign and that I’m right where I need to be.
“begin at the beginning and go on til you come to the end”
Never stop exploring. Embrace the suck. I. Believe. In. YOU. kk ily <3
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