A Leisurely Walk

IIt's good to be back on trail.  Dean dropped us off downtown this morning and we got breakfast at a small diner.  There was a pro bike race going on called Tour of the Gila, so streets were blocked off.  We watched it for a bit then headed out of town on Little Walnut Road.  

Cars passing our group honked and waved.  Silver City was designated a gateway city to the CDT this year and there was a big story in the paper.  So people knew who we were.

The trail entered into a forested area and then into a river canyon.  There were some really neat rock formations on the canyon walls and cliffs.  There were trees!  It's great to be out of the desert.  It's still hot and dry but there is shade.  One particular tree was a bright green that sparkled when the sun shone through it.  

Pounce and I hiked most if the day together as we are slower than the others.  We were about a mile and a half from a water source and camping spot when we came around a bend and saw Smiles stopped.  It was a flat, open area with a beautiful view of the hills and valley.  We were tired.  It was perfect.  So us three girls are camped here and will catch up to the rest of the group in the morning.