Start: 99.2
Stop: 114.3
Today’s Miles: 15.1
Total CDT miles: 114.3
Today was incredible! Well, up until a little while ago, but I’ll tell you about that later-because up until then, today has been my favorite day on trail! I woke up happy.. the wind wasn’t too awful overnight, and the noise from it did help lull me to sleep. And, the second I looked at my watch, I realized it’s Andrea’s birthday! I just knew the second I got service I had to message her!
The trail was meandering up and down and around-it was soft sand and easy going. There were views and small climbs. I was having a ball! I did get service on top of a mountain, so I messaged Andrea, and then I realized it was another friend’s graduation today too, so I messaged Kirsten (she just graduated from PA school, and I am so proud of her!). And while doing that, another friend’s text came through about getting into CRNA school! Talk about a wonderful morning filled with good things!
I carried on, my blisters weren’t too bad, my mood was high, the views kept making me smile. At some point Pebbles and I ate lunch under a tree.. there’s so many more TREES here! Maybe this is why I’m so dang happy today! The shade they provide is life saving and so so welcomed!
There were a few water caches out for us to refill our water bottles at, we relaxed at one and then headed on to the next. The second one had sodas as well! So, we got our first ever trail magic! We were deciding on continuing on, or stopped here for the night, because there’s our first real climb coming up. I voted stay-because I didn’t want to tote extra water for dinner and all of that for a mile uphill, when we can just camp here and do that mile in the morning. Pebbles didn’t take long to agree.
That means, tomorrow, we’ll have a 5 mile climb before hiking down 3 miles to the Burro Mountain Homestead. They’ll let thru hikers camp and shower for free. And they sell sodas and frozen microwaveable pizzas. Like we needed any other motivation to go there! That silly pizza won me over quick.
After we set up our tents, I called my mom to check in. She told me that our dog, Molly, isn’t doing too well. She has a tumor in her bladder blocking part of her urethra, making it hard to pee. I knew this already, but apparently she started peeing blood and when my sweet cousin took her to the vet, the tumor has grown significantly.
This was a hard phone call to take, because I love that dog so damn much. If she leaves this world, I want to be the one holding her, so she knows she’s loved and safe and the best puppy in the whole world. The problem is, we don’t know if it’s that time just yet-and if I were to figure out how to quickly get home (which I just did figure out-hitch hike on hwy 90 back to Lordsburg, take a greyhound bus to El Paso, fly home.. do the same in reverse and be a week behind Pebbles).. it would feel like we were rushing to put her down on my schedule instead of when it’s really her time.
My mom says she’s not ready to let her go yet, and she’s been her baby for the last 9 years, she lives with her and rules the house over my mom’s other doggo, Max, and if mom doesn’t think it’s time, then it’s not. But, she told me to call the vet in the morning and verify everything with them. Our biggest concern is Molly suffering at all.. and as of right this minute-she’s still peeing, pooping, eating and drinking.. mom says she’s not panting or whining and she doesn’t seem like she’s in any pain at all.
So, I’ll call the vet in the morning. If they say they recommend not prolonging any further, I’ll tell Pebbles bye, and walk to the highway to hitchhike back to Lordsburg. And if they don’t tell me that, I’ll hike 5 miles up a mountain instead. I won’t lie, I’m pretty dang sad over all of this.. but I know my pupperoni is loved by my mom, and my Aunt Kathy and my cousin Michael (and my Uncle Keith, too). I know she’s being loved on and catered to, and none of them would let her hurt or suffer in any way. This is the price I pay by taking these long trips away from those I love with my whole heart-I don’t get to be there for the important things sometimes, and it is devastating.
Anyway. Tears in the middle of the woods won’t do me any good. So. I’m drying my eyes and I’m going to sleep. There’s nothing I can do about anything tonight. Only beneficial thing I can do is try to get some sleep. Goodnight y’all. Love on your pupperonies a little extra for me tonight.