Patagonia & an Almost Full Moon

April 3, 2023 - Day 3

mile 37.5 -64.5 (27 miles)

I woke up a few times during the night and gazed up at the stars. The moon moved across the sky and when it had set I could see the milky way clear as day stretched above us. My body annoyingly woke me up again at 6 to poop but I felt well rested enough that I just stayed up. reading my book "Three Women" for an hour until Hambone got up. We sat there, legs still wrapped in the quilt as Hambone made coffee and I munched on breakfast. On the grassy hillside across from us deer bounded back and forth between tree-line and the meadow. It was so peaceful.

Our cowboy camp spot

The day heated up fast and by midday I was struggling. We had decided to take the old AZT route into the town of Patagonia and it was much more uphill than Hambone remembered. The wind made the temperature more bearable today but it also meant I couldn't use my umbrella or it would just get blown inside out.

The last 2 miles road walking into town killed me and my poor feet, but before I knew it Wonder and her friend Ashley were riding up beside us on bikes. It was soooo good to see them and we dropped everything and hugged in the street, then decided to meet down at the Wagon Wheel restaurant for lunch.

Once ordering at the restaurant I headed into the bathroom to wash my dusty face and hands. While in there I peed and noticed it was bright orange. I was pretty dang dehydrated. Back at the table I chugged my water, then my Diet Coke and asked for a refill of both. My sunburn on the back of my thighs stung against the cool plastic of the seat. The cold liquids tasted heavenly and I slowly started to relax into my seat and really enjoy my friends' company.

After lunch we all hung out at the park while Hambone and I resupplied and gathered ourselves from our struggles. As evening fell we hugged them goodbye. Usually the pull of town would tempt me to stay but with it only being day 3 and knowing I'd get to see my friends again tomorrow, I was ready to night hike a few more miles.

Ashely & Wonder :-)

It was a beautiful hike out of town, we took the old AZT again on some winding dirt roads. The moon is almost full and was so bright we didn't even need headlamps. We set the tent up along the dirt road here and I am ready to cuddleeee.

Wildlife sightings: Deer, turkeys, big mystery bird, dead rabbit