What a difference a day makes! I was ready to turn my sticks in and walk off the trail. After all the blowdown’s, fall downs, the breakdowns and meltdowns, I wasn’t sure if this is really what I wanted to be doing for the next 150 days. But God. That’s all that needs to be said.

The one huge blessing since HoboBlue came along is the weather has been picture perfect. I woke up to the most stunning sunrise, reds, pinks and purples, with a crystal blue backdrop. It was gorgeous.

We packed because that’s what we do. Prayed over our day and asked the sweet Lord to clear the trail for us and headed off. I had done a bit of homework while in the tent last night. I found an alternate that stays low and follows the river. This sounded like a good option, free of Lincoln Logs but we would endure some Montana Mud. I’ll take mud over fallen trees any day of the week.

It ended up to be the best maintained trail this side of Glacier. It was lush, green, easy hiking, rolling ups and downs but mostly flattish. We had one river crossing and some mud, but outside of that, no fallen trees. My legs were thanking me. And HoboBlue was humming songs behind me. It was a day unlike yesterday.

Once we hooked back up with the Red-Line (official CDT route), we crossed Kip Creek and were back on the trail. Another five plus miles and we found camp. We never saw a single soul out here today.

I am so grateful that HoboBlue joined me in this section. Honestly, I’m not sure how I would’ve negotiated all the trees, climb overs, crawl under, foot stuck in knee deep mud that literally encased my leg. She was there to lift me up, pull me out and laugh at the mess we got ourselves into. There are not many people in this world that number one, physically can even go this. But two, mentally and spiritually are able to respond with such grace and love during harder than hardest times. We have a good partnership and even though she says she’ll never do this again, I betcha she’ll be back at it with me, if just for the memories of how bad things can get! Who else do you get to have this kind of fun with?

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭