As a side note...we wish Mason (1st grade) the best of luck juggling his 2 current girlfriends...and we hope that someday he hits the 4 girlfriend mark as he has promised to one day achieve!
We finally hit the road at around 9 o'clock. We walked for a little longer than normal trying to get out of the "hustle 'n bustle" that is downtown Roswell, NM. We were in no hurry either, as we were well aware that we had a monster 39 mile day ahead of us. We eventually got the legs rolling. I personally felt great coming off the off day! I'm pretty sure Andy is still a bit tight in his hamstrings..or perhaps his butt muscles. But, we kept going all day. We stopped at around noon to eat some sandwiches that Whitney had whipped up for us, they were delicious!!
The first half of the day went by pretty fast, in my opinion. I was enjoying the nice weather, the wind was not really anything horrible, and I am really getting used to the arid weather and heat. It actually is sometimes okay to run through. It does get pretty hot, but we don't really drip sweat or anything like that, so the wind keeps us dry and happy sometimes when it's not too harsh.
We had been told that we would enter the "Hondo Valley" at some point during today's travels. We really didn't expect much from what people were telling us. We have joked that when people tell us about the upcoming terrain, especially when they warn us about "big hills" or "crazy flatness" it usually doesn't end up being too bad. So when people were telling us about how we would be "going down into the Hondo Valley" we shrugged it off for the most part. But, let me tell you...we rounded a corner and our minds were blown away at around mile 27 on the day. We saw a massive downhill into a giant valley in between 2 ranges of mountains. I immediately became excited because I knew we would be running right in the valley in between the mountains. It was a very beautiful sight...something that was very unexpected and completely different than anything we have seen the entire trip. To run through the past 4 weeks on flat lands that were mostly farm lands as far as the eyes could see...and then to see the sights we saw today, it was extra special. Sometimes I would look at one area and be blown away, and then I would look somewhere else and I would be staring in awe once again. We ran the final 12 or so miles through this type of terrain, and I was constantly seeing something new and breathtaking. There are no trees on these mountains, which is something I am not used to. It was a welcome surprise.
At one point in our travels today, a Motorcyclist stopped us and asked us if he had found a wallet on the side of the road. We told him that we hadn't but we would keep an eye out for the rest of the day for it. he went on his way, and the entire day, the three of us kept searching the sides of the road for any signs or wallet...but much to our dismay, we did not see it. However, we stopped at a local store in the Hondo Valley called the Riverside Stage Stop. The Biker saw us there and told us that he had indeed found the wallet! We were pumped! A woman named Bella came out and greeted us and gave us some free waters and Raspberry and Cherry Cider. Apparently, this cider is famous around these parts, and we found out why! The cider was really good. After talking to Bella about our trip, she told us how, not even a week ago, George Martin, who is walking across the country (NYC to San Diego) stopped in her very store! George Martin used to play for the New York Giants and is raising money for the heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. We are only 1 week behind him, and we are both finishing in San Diego. We're trying to figure out if there is a way we can meet up with George somehow in the upcoming weeks, or perhaps even when we finish on the shores of San Diego! We especially would like to, because Bella gave us a card to give to George if we ever do get to meet up with him. So hopefully we can do our part and deliver that to him. You can check George out at www.ajourneyfor911.info
So we finished our run at around 5:00. We got picked up by Curtis Miller, who along with his wife Danielle, is our host for the night. They took us right in and they made us a fabulous Chicken soup dinner with some salad! It was a bit spicy...just how I like it! Since dinner, we've all got showered up and are winding down for the night. Durkin, Andy, and Curtis are in the other room watching the NCAA championship game. I guess I am rooting for Memphis because I like singing the blues! I guess we'll see. The only team I root for is The Oneonta State Red Dragons...I hope they had a good and healthy season! Quick shout out to my main O-State hoop stars Joe McMiller # 13 and Sean Coffey # 4. Best swishes to you guys!!
So we have finished our hardest segment of the trip. We covered a good 170+ miles in 5 days of running. Tomorrow we are looking at a 30 mile day (pbshh...dumb) and then the day after that a 19 mile day (what are we...swimming in the kiddy pool?!?!) After that, Andy's parents will be here to help us out for about a week. In our opinions...this trip is over!! The hard parts at least!! WE HAVEN'T CAMPED OUT SINCE MARCH 5TH...and people think we're hardcore! To be serious, though...this trip has been incredible. The hard days get us to rethink what we think is "hard" so it makes everything else feel that much easier. I am really happy with the way everything has played out thus far. 49 days left...that's it (but whose counting?) You better believe I daydream every now and then about those sandy beaches in San Diego...with my girlfriend and my family waiting for me...but for now I am playing the game of "Nation" and I am getting quite good at it, and I love the game. Andy, Durkin, and I are all having the times of our lives out on the road.
If you want to sing out, sing out
and if you want to be free, be free :)
Ken!
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