October 30th, 2024
Mile Marker: Blue Line Alternate
Miles Hiked: 26
I woke up this morning around 6, feeling refreshed from a good nights rest. I enjoyed my oats and coffee mix as the sun came up.
We rolled out around 7:25 and moved quickly to warm up our bodies. It was getting cold again. I loved it for sleeping at night but it made getting up more difficult.
We had a gorgeous sunrise as we hiked along the trail. I was thankful for marked CDT posts for majority of the trail today.
We walked through bushes and cacti all day. I was on a mission as I wanted to get to highway 81 as fast as possible, this is where I would meet Journey!
We arrived at our first water source 6 miles in quickly. It was smooth sailing.
This place was an oasis for us hikers and animals. Green trees and water! I could spot it miles away. There was also many cow paths to get to this water as we headed off trail.
This area also had a huge container for us hikers to use. How wonderful and kind!
It was still rather chilly so we continued on and started to heat up with the rising sun. I was surprised that we actually had some climbing to do today as I thought this section was pancake flat. Not so much. But it felt good to climb and use different muscles.
We had similar views all day today. Bushes and cacti lining the trail and us either on a gravel road or trail snaking between them all.
We took a lunch break around noon, taking our time and then had 7 more miles to highway 81.
I could not wait. We took another short break in 4 miles then I took off for the last 3 miles. I was so antsy I couldn’t take it.
Was I running? Basically. I couldn’t get to the road fast enough.
Eventually I neared the road and saw Journey far off in the distance standing on the bed of his truck. A smile spread across my face. There he is.
I let out my “hootie hoo” call and I see him wave his hands above his head and I wave my trekking poles back.
I weaved in and out of the spikey bushes, pushing against the sand, getting there as fast as I could.
Once I crossed the road, I slid off my backpack, and jumped into Journeys arms. He lifted me up and twirled me around just like you see in the movies.
This was the hiker trash edition of course. 😂
It had felt like it had been so long since we had seen each other, both of us a different person than the last time we were together. Both of us traveling through very different journeys.
We couldn’t stop hugging and then I noticed the huge spread he had out for us hikers. It was no surprise he would have everything us hikers would want. Beer, Gatorade, water, chips, cookies, everything!
We had about 5 minutes to ourselves then the other group of three; Rocky, Slay, and G arrived and then Whatever and Aster.
We all had a beer, sat around and enjoyed each other’s company. It was such a glorious time. So much so I didn’t even think to take a picture the entire time.
We then decided we should head out for the last 6 or so miles and Journey would meet us since we were planning to camp off of a gravel road.
I hated even saying bye for a short moment but we hiked on and I loved watching his white truck pass through in the distance.
The 6 mile hike was easy going and we moved quickly. We spent 2 ish miles going through the bushes and then popped out on a gravel road for the rest.
We found a spot that Journey could park his truck and we could set up camp.
Journey and I sat on the back of his truck and ate Subway sandwiches that he brought and made hot chocolate and fireball to warm us up.
It was nice to get to tell each other about the past weeks, even though it wasn’t a happy topic for Journey to share, I was glad for us to be together and I could support him as he processed.
We got in our tent and it was just like old times except Journey didn’t have his normal hiking stuff so we tried to think of ways to keep him warm as the night was going to get into the 30s.
We are snug up and I can’t believe this is my last night on trail. I hope I leave this trail a better me when I get back to the real world.
I’m ready to relax and rest my body and spend time with Journey for a couple weeks before we go back to work. Work!? Wild.
Eek!
Goodnight yall.
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 