Zeros are the best - I feel strong, rejuvenated, and happy.

At 7am, we walked a block to Zero Day, the café owned by hikers where we shipped our packages.  My new battery was there but not our resupply box.  While we sipped the delicious lattes we ordered, we checked the tracking number and discovered the box was still at the post office; since we had to go the post office anyway to send back my old battery, it was just a minor inconvenience.  We had been hoping to sort through our food first and make the trip to the post office the last thing we did, but since we suddenly had two hours to kill (the post office didn’t open until 9am) we went back to the Silver Llama for breakfast. 

Our visit to the post office was a little painful because their credit card machine didn’t work and people weren’t happy about it at all - it was only 9:05 and the woman behind the counter told me she was already having a terrible day.  I did my best to encourage her and then went back to the hotel room to start sorting the food.  Meanwhile, Nick stopped back at the Silver Llama to get us some sandwiches for dinner (with our later start we figured we’d be camping two nights, not just one).

I was blown away by the things Mary included in the box from my Body in Balance ohana!  More letters from clients and staff that made me smile, Oreos for Nick (he was so excited), ginger candy… it means so much to me and it put me in a fantastic mood that has yet to go away.  Mary also slipped in some surprises of her own, like dried apples, her famous breakfast bars, and Mark’s jerky (which is by far the best jerky ever).  Theresa included more of her figures, too.  Honestly, we are the luckiest hikers ever - I’m so grateful for our friends and family!

After sorting through the food, we had a few things to donate to a hiker box.  I had noticed one at Zero Day, so I went back to the café with our extra things.  While there, I got into a great conversation with one of the owners, Tony aka Laser Goat, and his friend.  Tony ended up giving me some First Ascent instant coffee packets for the trail, which was really awesome of him.  As luck would have it, I didn’t have Theresa’s figures or my phone with me, so I ran back to the hotel to get them because Tony certainly deserved one for letting us send packages there, for the coffee, and for being such a great person.

It was after 10 by the time we walked out of the hotel with our thumbs up, looking for a hitch back to Tennessean Pass.  We didn’t have to wait long - we had walked maybe three blocks when we were picked up by Spenser.  It turns out Spenser is from Quincy, Illinois (not too far from where we grew up) - he spends his summers in Colorado and his winters back home on the farm in Quincy.  He was great (I was relieved it was such an easy hitch).

At the trailhead I took some pictures for a mother who is going out on a three day hike with her son.  Her son looked to be about 10 years old and I couldn’t tell if he was just shy or nervous about the hike because he seemed both overwhelmed and unenthusiastic about the venture, which made me laugh to myself.  

Then I stopped at the bathroom.  

Then I talked to a very nice couple in their 60’s who are also going out hiking for a few days. 

By the time I started hiking, it was 11.  I was worried about getting in enough miles, but I shouldn’t have - the zero and the amazing support from friends and family did a world of good.  I feel like a different person.   :)

We ended up hiking 17 fun miles.  There was a little bit of everything on this hike and I enjoyed every second.  It was gorgeous!

Finding a campsite at the end of the day was a little difficult because there seem to be a lot of Colorado Trail SOBO hikers out here and everywhere we wanted to camp was already taken.  I didn’t care - even though I was carrying 4 liters of water (we were going to be dry camping) I felt like I could hike forever.  We eventually found a spot and all is well.  

The only thing I can’t get over is how I failed to give Special K a figure!  Of all people, he deserves one the most as he not only picked us up but he gave me some much-needed perspective.  Sorry, K! :(

Along the trail:

Camp: