Hello Everyone,

Tonight I am camped on the lawn at the Washoe County Fire Station 31, which is about 20 miles south of Reno. I was very fortunate today to find this fire station and the great captain that works here.

Earlier I had stopped about four miles north of the station because my feet were bothering me, especially the plantar fasciitis in my left foot. I found a nice green patch of lawn to an entrance of a ranch to lay down. It had been a hot day and I had trekked up a very steep hill leaving Carson City. I stretched out for a while and took a couple Advil, and Forgot the Nigel bottle on the ground when I left. I didn’t realize it until I got thirty but didn’t want to walk back the 3-4 miles. The other bottle was empty and I only had a little in the gallon bottle. Unfortunately this is a long stretch of open ranch land on the 395 Alternate with no stores or place to find water.

It was around 4:30 and I was a little concerned because there were no open areas to camp, mainly fenced ranch land. I saw the station and decided to at least stop to ask for water. The captain and two firefighters happened to be out side talking to someone. I asked him for water and he took me in and offered me water and ice from a large ice maker. When I told him what had happened to my Nigel bottle he offered to give me his and then offered to drive me back to find it. We got in one of the smaller rescue vehicle and drove back about four miles and found it.

It was after five by then and was really concerned about a camp site. The captain asked where I was camping, and I told him I wasn’t sure. He told I was more than welcome to camp out on the lawn under the trees. Wow! Did stoping here save the day for me in more ways than one. Got my bottle back and have a great place to camp. The captain also said I was welcome to use the bathroom and come have coffee with them in the morning. I don’t drink coffee but I’ll see. I remind myself never to turn down an offer.

My day had started out very slow this morning because I got up late because the room was so dark and quite. Then I had to have breakfast in the restaurant there. Even though the bed was comfortable, I like sleeping with my pad and sleeping bag and actually used it on the bed last night.

It was raining when I started but it only lasted about five minutes. I decided to follow the Google map instead of going on the main streets. That has gotten me in trouble before because it usually gives the shortest route but not necessarily the easiest. Sometimes it directs you to road that aren’t there. This time it directed me through a residential neighborhood, which Seemed better than busy streets. Then it directed me to a dead end street and onto a dirt walkway. It said it was only 600 yards, which were very steep uphill yards with the Wheelie. It then took me to the 395 Bike Alternate. This was a two lane country road and a steep two to three mile climb. From there it was a steep downhill. From now on I will stick to the main road, and knowing better, will not trust Google map directions again.

I did walk through the Old a Downtown area of Carson City before I followed the residential route. Carson is the State Capital, and the buildings, new and old, are beautiful. The downtown residential neighborhood with the old house 1800s are very beautiful too.

It’s about twenty miles to Reno and at the slower pace that I have been walking, I am not sure I’ll make it tomorrow. On my previous trek I was averaging a little over fifteen miles a day, with some days eighteen to twenty-one, but with my bad feet it has been considerably less. Again, I am not in a rush, though a little frustrated at times.

Hope to update you tomorrow. Please keep sending the positive thoughts and prayers.
Excuse the typos, grammar, spelling, etc.

Ted