In January We Were So Dedicated...

Our first walk was 5 miles on Hwy 32 in icy cold rain. We were miserable, but cheerful. We'll walk in all weathers! Rain? Snow? We don't care! We originally planned to walk once or twice a week, averaging 10 miles a week. We got maps and started marking off our progress, and started walking three times a week. It was becoming addictive. Cynthia bought new hiking boots and we took pictures of them.

Not far from Apache Creek we saw a roadrunner cross the road, another day it was a coyote crossing the highway south of Jewett Road. We started bringing dogs and children and picnic lunches. One very cold day, not far from the road that goes to Hardcastle Gap we stopped and watched a midair dispute between two redtail hawks for ten minutes, and near the rest area north of the turn off to Slaughter Mesa, there were five mule deer grazing just off the road. North of Quemado Lake we saw a bald eagle being mobbed by crows.

We finished Hwy 32 on my birthday, walking 8.5 miles. Including the 3.9 miles of pavement that goes from 32 to Quemado Lake, our total so far: 45.5 miles.