The road walk today wasn’t terrible.  I do lament not being on an actual trail and getting to go up and over mesas and such, though.  Throughout the day I’d periodically look up at the amazing rock structures around me and think about how beautiful it would be to be up there.  But the scenery along the road was quite nice, too, and most of the people who drove past us (except for the sheriff, who didn’t even move over an inch as he drove by) were friendly.  

I do want to mention that I woke up twice last night and both times I was surprised and a little unsettled to see that the door to our motel room was wide open.  The door was pretty tricky to close so it wasn’t entirely out of the question that such a thing could happen, but still.. it was creepy waking up to an open door, wondering just how long it had been open and if anyone took a peek inside while we were sleeping.  Nothing was missing (I don’t think anyone would want our dirty stuff, anyway), it was just a shitty motel with a shitty door.

I also found the keys to the room that Flora thought were missing - they were in the desk drawer.  I put them on top of the desk with the one key we had so now she should have a full set.  It is my parting gift to that delightful hoot of a woman.

On the way out of Cuba we stopped at Theresa’s, which is where most of our hiker friends had been staying.  Since our motel didn’t have a hiker box, we thought we’d drop off some extra food there.  Our timing was perfect - we got there just as Tall Son was hiking out (apparently he decided to do the road walk, too) and just as Blink, Master Chef, and Fuego were leaving (they managed to get someone to drive them to Chama).  We gave our hiker box food to them, filled up on water, and continued on our way.  

We stopped in Regina for lunch, where we caught up with Cody and Bodhi.  It was an excellent lunch - not only was it great company, but we were all able to lean up against the outer wall of the building (in the shade!) and just relax.  The water we obtained from the bathroom was a little suspect - my bottle at first looked like it was filled with milk until the air bubbles settled out and it didn’t taste all that great - but beggars can’t be choosers.

The last mile to the ranch was the most difficult for me because my feet desperately wanted a break yet I didn’t want to stop because I was so close.  It was also very windy, and since we were walking on a dirt road at that point I had to endure more crazy dust clouds in my face.  

Once at the ranch, however, it was great.  I talked with Tall Son a bit until he left to get in more miles (he wants to get to Chama before noon on Saturday).  It’s been a very chill evening with Cody and Bodhi and Nick, sitting on actual chairs around an actual table on the patio.  Julie, one of the owners, is letting us use the bathroom in the extra cabin, which is an amazing luxury.  The cabin is very cute but you know what stood out the most?  The toilet paper.  She has the good, soft, plush toilet paper - I forget how nice it is to not use crappy, 1-ply, cardboard-like toilet paper.  All in all, it feels like we’re glamping.  Except for the last dusty mile, we stayed relatively clean, too.  

Julie wasn’t home when we all got here, but when she did arrive I liked her instantly.  She is a no-nonsense woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or be herself.  She’s funny and kind and exactly the sort of person who can easily run a horse ranch by herself while her husband is in Colorado. 

So far the Manhands alternate (as Cody and Bodhi are calling it) has been just fine.  My feet aren’t in terrible shape, either, which is fantastic news.  

Along the road:

Camp: