Sunday morning at 6:00 am we pulled out of our driveway heading east for Flagstaff. It’s an 11 hour jaunt. Aren’t we all happy plastered behind the wheel? Cramping here and there. Stuck in the middle of mountain and desert, trailer homes and dunes.
My friend Katherine loves a road trip. She makes good sandwiches and good conversations. This is how she catches up with family and friends flying down the highway in clever conversation, no mention of pain. At the start of the century, she and I drove from CA to CA. California to Faro Yukon Canada. The ultimate road trip and the miles flew by.
Back in AZ, we arrive and settle in our room by 6 pm. We have plenty of time to get a meal, but decide trail mix is easier. An early rehearsal for what lies ahead. We’re here to hike the last 200 miles of the AZT.
On Monday we drive our resupply bag to a bear locker located 38 miles up highway 180 and four miles into a dirt road to a trailhead. The locker was hidden behind a juniper bush. Two hikers sat out of sight enjoying canned lemonade left by a trail angel. We recognized the female from Mt. Lemon.
Next we drove up to Yavapai Lodge in the Grand Canyon to leave a resupply box. This is the food that will fuel us down the South rim of the Grand Canyon, across the Grand Canyon and up the north rim hiking on to Lake Jacob. We will stay at the lodge on May 1st or 2nd. We reserved both nights being unsure of our speed. We’ll cancel one of the rooms.
We were going to drive to the trail’s finish at the Utah border, but turned at highway 89 because of driving fatigue heading back to Flagstaff. This is the highway that was closed, owing to the Tunnel fire. It’s open now and we saw little evidence of the disaster.
We leave our car at the motel in Flagstaff Tuesday and resume our hike. Clear weather, 34 degrees. Stay turned.
Mountain Peace 
Off and away! Have fun!
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Godspeed, as the saying goes. Love your reference to Katherine – so true!
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