CDT 2024 - Day 12, Gila Hot Springs and Decisions

A Zero Day to enjoy the Hot Springs and explore Gila Cave Dwellings Monument

Enjoying fresh ground coffee beans from "the kids" at home. Seemed appropriate.

Runningbird was here and safe and I was happy for her to be here and safe. Below is a copy of a text she sent to family at home:

Hi, I’m texting from David’s phone. I’m safe at the hot springs. Thank you for your prayers!!!!

Oh my goodness. The water was up to my sternum in the first two crossings. The usual was my waist with a few that were just ankle deep. There were crossings in many places every 1/4 mile. I was constantly wet and shivering until about 2or 3 pm. The sun was warm enough then. I was washed off my feet about 8 times but was able to regain footage without damage to self or gear.

I was actually carried by the river three times. Thank you for your prayers!!! Those were hair raising moments. I was able to work my way by sort or swimming to the edge of the river and regain my footing. Then grabbing branches and the cliff could get to a good spot to take out.

The first thing I did each time is check my phone. It got wet several times but I dried it instantly and it was still working. About 5 o’clock I had maybe 3 crossing and 2 miles left. I did not like the look of the crossing but so no alternative in either direction so I steeled my self and using my best crossing technique and concentration I was almost over- then I could feel the increased force of the current - I was unable to plant my both poles at the same time. There was about 4 feet left to go when one foot was swept up. The other foot follows immediately and I was swept in a fast current. I actually called out your name and Cindy’s because I knew you were praying for me. I rolled over on my back and used all my strength to trap and root projecting from the cliff bank.

The root held long enough for me to regain my foot. Leaning against the bank I checked for my phone- gone. Somehow the little dry bag I had carabined to the top of my pack had ripped open and my phone was gone!

We will go to Albuquerque tomorrow and get a new one. I am so grateful to be in the trailer with David and I am grateful for your prayers. Oh, and I am absolutely exhausted.

----- Runningbird

So we decided to take the morning slow, be grateful to God and for the path he has put us on, and to be grateful for each other. The morning coffee seemed even better than usual. Today we would empty the backpack, empty out the water, and set it on the picnic bench in the sun and wind to dry. I hung up everything that was wet and it all dried relatively quickly. We walked with Beau over to Doc Campbells and Peggy had a good look around and visited with other hikers and shared her story. Everyone understood perfectly well. One young lady, Crumbs" from Quebec spent a little time showing her Garmin In-Reach Mini 2 to Runningbird. With her tracker she can send text messages. We'll visit that issue later. For now she needed to get a new phone before she could go any further.

Back at the trailer I researched AT&T stores and found more than one in Albuquerque. We decided we would take a mini side trip vacation. I have never been to New Mexico before this trip so here we go. Tomorrow we'll go to Albuquerque so I made a KOA reservation. Hopefully we can find the phone Peggy wants at one of the many AT&T stores. From there we might visit Santa Fe and perhaps Taos. But for now, one day at a time.

Just after noon we drove a few miles up the road to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. It is the only place in the National Park Service that interprets and preserves part of the Mongollon Cultural history. These people called these cliffs home over 700 years ago, It was really cool to walk the path and visit these caves.

Gila Cliff Dwellings, NM.

Gila Cliff Dwellings, NM.

After visiting the caves and returning to the RV Park, we walked Beau back over to Doc Campbell's for ice cream and finished up our day with a hot soup dinner, Tylenol, and rest. While Peggy wasn't complaining, I could see her knees and legs were heavily bruised and cut up. More so than usual. I kept the Tylenol on the counter by the bed.