May 15, 2007

Before leaving Casa de Luna, Terry and Joe Anderson fed the hikers pancakes and waffles.  Yummy!  We then all signed a huge banner and had a group photo taken.  Joe took the picture as Terry mooned the hikers to get everyone to smile.  I smiled and quickly put my pack in the van for my shuttle to the trailhead.  Bison Ed, Hot Pocket, Patrick, Eric, and Sideshow all joined me.  I had been up since 6:30 a.m. and was anxious to begin my day's hike.

I hiked the first eight miles with Sideshow who is from Canada.  He is a 25 year-old young man who lost his mother to cancer.  We had a great conversation about celestial messages from a loved one while out here hiking in God's natural world.  I hiked on by myself after the Red Carpet water cache.  Bison Ed, Eric, and Sideshow were enjoying a longer break. The rolling hills in today's 95 degree heat became monotonous.  Luckily, I was able to get in the zone for the majority of today's 15.4 miles.  I took pictures of a great cave and peeked inside.

I took an extra long break around mile 13 to wait for Bison Ed.  We planned to camp at the Upper Shake Campground where we could find water and re-hydrate overnight.  I cooked mashed potatoes and BBQ chicken for dinner.  I ate Christina's special M&M's for dessert.  Bison Ed and I are alone.  The sky is beginning to sparkle and frogs are croaking in the distance.  Bison Ed is watching a four inch toad wander past his tent. He's talking about eating toads if there were six or more and if one was really hungry.

An owl is hooting.  There is a slight wind and finally, the air is cool.  I am at peace in my tent as my leg muscles twitch from exertion.  I just rolled over on my glasses and a lens fell out.  Shoot.  Venus, Ursa Major, lights from a jet, stars, night sky.  Goodnight Moon!