Hello Everyone,

Here I am laying in my tent again sending you all an update on my trek today, Monday, April 21, on Day 11.

I made 14.85 miles today, in about 8 hours and 45 minutes. That was a longer distance and time than I had wanted to go today, but I had trouble finding a sheltered site. The one last night definitely could have been better. It took me an extra half hour this morning just to get all the sand out of everything. My hair feels pretty gritty but I don’t have enough water to wash it. My eyes were full of dirt too.

The problem in this terrain is that it is fairly barren of large bushes or trees. I saw some decent sites earlier in the day, but it was to early to stop walking. The further I trekked, and the later it got, the worse the terrain looked. I was worried that it might be even worse further up, so I just took a chance setting up behind the biggest bush off of the road. I am about 9 miles north of the entrance to Red Rock State Park on Highway 14.

I had a restless sleep last night because the wind was rattling the tent most of the night. The morning was actually very beautiful. No wind and a beautiful sunrise. I start my day with meditation and a prayer. It was cool in the morning, around 55, and then got into the nineties most of the day.

I have been going through two 34 oz, and one 16 oz, bottles of drinks I mix, plus nearly a half gallon of water. All this is just for drinking while walking. I need another gallon to be on the safe side for dinner and filling the drink bottles for the next day. I don’t like carrying two gallons of water at over 16 pounds, but have been because the heat. The first thing I wanted to do this morning was go to the Jawbone General Store to get two gallons of water and just drink something cold. The store was a little over a mile from my site and unfortunately was closed. Luckily there is a Forest Service visitor’s center a little further up and I was able to fill up my bottles. I had almost thrown then away.

I started the day thinking that I was getting into a rhythm since I made over eighteen miles yesterday. Maybe I can start making 26 miles a day, a marathon. Wrong! Funny, but I have driven this section of road hundreds of times and I consider it fairly flat. Of course, I am in a car going 70 mph. Well, when you walk it, especially with a 60-70 pound Wheelie behind you, you realize that it is uphill. There were a couple of small uphills, and then the dreaded downhill all the way to the beginning of Red Rock State Park. From there it was uphill for about six miles or so. My trekking program shows a total elevation gain today of 1,709′. Along with the heat, it was challenging, and definitely not a 26 mile day. Today was definitely in my top four tough days.

I must have looked troubled because a nice young man made a u-turn and stopped to ask if everything was alright. I said I was fine and thanked him. In retrospect, I should have made it more of a point to complimented him on being such a concerned and compassionate person.  Then near the top of the hill, when I was really moving slow, a Highway Patrol officer stop to see if I was ok. He said that it was kind of hot day and offered me two frozen bottles of water. I told him I was a retired Chippy and we must have chatted a half hour of more. That was just what I needed, the break and cold water, which gave me the extra energy. I also met a young man from the Czech Republic who was taking pictures of Re Rock Canyon. When he noticed me he ran over (across the k-rail) to my side of the road to chat and take a picture. He was on vacation and had only been here two days. That’s the beauty of this type of traveling because people seem to go out of their way to chat.

I have driven through Red Rock Canyon hundreds of times, but walking through it at a snail’s pace gave me even better perspective of how beautiful it is.

I am on SR 14 now and will look forward to starting on US 395 within the next few days. SR 14 is four lanes from Mojave to Red Rock and then funnels down to two lanes. The two lane portion has a very narrow shoulder and I make it a point to walk completely onto the gravel when traffic approaches. Even parts of the four lane portion has very narrow shoulders and I had to move completely onto the gravel as traffic went by. I have actually been amazed at how courteous most drivers are as they approach me. I keep thinking that I must be in another state? Many cars, and almost all big rigs, will either move over a bit or move completely into the other lane, even when I have a wide asphalt shoulder. Almost all the trucks move into the other lane.

Once I am on US 395 it will be a lot more relaxing since it is all four lanes with a very wide shoulder. There is an alternate route to US 395 that Google recommends, but the CHP officer said it’s gravel. Forget it!

Right now there is no wind, so my prayers have been answered. I think it might be cooler too?

Hope to keep you updated tomorrow.

Best to all, and please keep good thoughts, prayers, and blessings, going my way,
Ted

Next Post: Day 12