CDT 2024 - Day 6 - Goodbye Lordsburg, moving on

Runningbird back on the trail, Wingman and moving day-

Runningbird starting off her day heading north out of Lordsburg, NM

We were up as scheduled and I made instant coffee while Runningbird got dressed, took Beau out for a quick walk, packed the sandwich I had made her for the trail, and then we all loaded into the truck. I took her the short distance north through town and put her out where the trail took off from the main highway. She had to start by passing under a stretched-apart barbed wire fence and I handed her backpack over to her. The first morning light was appearing on the horizon as she set out on her way towards Silver City.

From the north, looking back south at Lordsburg, NM

Beau and I returned to the KOA and I started to get things together for departure. I read texts and e-mails, packed away dishes, and had a bowl of cereal. While I was checking on options for places in Silver City, my new friend Jim with the T@B 320 knocked on the door and invited me to come over to his rig and look at the alterations he had made. We had been chatting for quite a while and his wife Jill mentioned they needed to get going as they had a long drive ahead. Well, we were enjoying our show-and-tell time and continued to chat. Finally Jill mentioned they were going to get charged another day if they didn't get going. Initially I wasn't following what she was talking about and then I realized it was 1030 and check-out time for the KOA was 1100. The manager guy at the KOA already had it out for me (that's another story and hard to explain) and I knew if I was there one minute past 11 he would ding me. And he already had my credit card number. So, we said our short good-byes and I scrambled back to my rig and got my departure sequence initiated. I put all the dishes away, secured drawers and cabinets, shut down power, dumped tanks, secured hoses and power cords, did my hook-up to the truck, loaded Beau, and still had time to run over and use the bathroom. At 1059 we pulled out. I amazed myself, and usually I forget or miss stuff when I'm in a hurry. At this point I don't think I forgot anything and I was anxious to get moving north and be out of this town.

When I was a ways out of Lordsburg I pulled over and had a look at the map, Far Out, and Runningbird's Spot. There was a point at 20 trail miles where the CDT crossed over the highway. As Runningbird was making excellent time I decided to see if I could pull over at that crossover point and check on her. There was a dirt road at that point and I did pull off and just a short distance in there was a nice loop where I could park in the shadow of a tree and be out of the way of the road. There was also several big rocks under another tree with a water cache for the hikers and a tub of Pop Tarts. I also had a weak but usable cell signal and was able to check on Runningbird's progress. While I waited a few more hikers showed up (Shepard, Big Cat, and Purple) and made themselves comfortable in the shade and enjoyed the cache and snacks. They were surprised to hear Runningbird was behind them as they had started together and she had been hiking at a much faster pace. But it all made sense after I told them she had taken a Zero day.

Beau ready to greet Runningbird on the trail between Lordsburg and Silver City, NM.

Beau and I walked a short way out the trail and met the Bird at 3:20 (1520) and walked with her back to the water spot. She had hiked 20 miles in those nine hours since we dropped her off. And there was still plenty of daylight to go. After her Pop Tart snack, refilling her bottles, and a short visit with her hiker friends, she was off again. A few minutes later Big Cat and her beau Shepard hit the trail as well. Purple was still enjoying the shade in the heat of the afternoon so we chatted before I returned to the trailer. As I was not in a hurry to get to Silver City I decided to stay parked where I was and enjoy a quiet, relaxing afternoon and night in the shade of the pines, oaks, and Junipers. I double checked my map to make sure I was on National Forest land and not some ranchers property. Then I had a look at the levels for positioning of the T@B and, finding it was fairly level as is, decided I was good here for the night.

The Water Cache and Pop Tarts in the buckets. (R-L) Runningbird in front, Beau, Big Cat, and Shepard back in the shadow. Guggy Note Runningbird's socks!

After dinner (kale salad with chicken) Beau and I went for a short walk and then greeted another hiker that had just arrived and was enjoying the water cache and pop tarts. In the trailer I checked Runningbird's Spot and saw that she had hiked another seven miles making it a 27 mile day. I also noticed she was camped right next to a really nice Forest Service boondocking site not far off the highway ahead of me. I thought about moving and decided she might want to just have some time with her trail mates. Not to mention it's never a good idea to go into a new area in the dark.

I enjoyed an evening tea and read my book for a good while before falling asleep while watching the star filled sky out the back window.