I leave today from the eastern edge of Tucson (Bonanza Road, to be exact). From here, I head back toward Interstate 10, aiming for Las Cruces, which is some 270 miles away. I figure at best, I’ll be arriving there in the second week of May. I may not have a roof over my head till then– we’ll see what develops across the miles.
Two weeks of slowly moving across the widely spread Tucson metro area has been a rewarding experience– one that will someday bring me back to experience more of the enormous amount of local treasures offered the traveler.
My mind and body have been calling for greater challenges recently, and so umbrellas of excitement greatly overshadow strings of nervousness within regarding the unknown and unpredictable adventures to come of these next warming weeks.
As was the case when I walked through eastern California and western Arizona, I will probably be spending at least a small amount of time walking along the freeway. I’ll certainly be spending more time walking all available frontage roads, side roads, dirt roads under power lines, and sometimes even the flat floor of the desert, when possible. My eyes will be wide open for the many species of rattlesnake which are well out of hibernation mode and slithering all across the landscape. I’ve already heard the shakity-shake of their rattles, assuring me that they really don’t wish to be any closer to me than I do to them.
Wrong turns in fir-tree carpeted regions of the Pacific NW meant that I had to walk all the way back. Now, however, I simply cut across the open desert floor if it appears easier– just watching to make sure I don’t step on rattlers.
When I don’t camp in an official campground, I typically just find a place that is far enough from the road to be seen by no one– which is much more easily done after this winter’s heavy rains still has all the plant life in bloom.
Some wild animals could potentially be a threat in some places. Probably not, but nonetheless, I’ve followed the advice of the most experienced outdoorsmen, and I’ve picked up a small boater’s push-button air horn, which will squawk so loudly that any large animal will quickly run for its life upon hearing it. Bright lights are also said to do the trick– and I have plenty of those too– plus mace!
I’m overpacked again, so I’ll likely be shipping away some thermals, warm socks, and other small items as soon as I get the chance. I hang on to them for the moment, as Tucson recently had some very chilly evening weather, and from here I’m walking into elevations of 5,000 feet and above…
The great power of growing enthusiasm fills me at this point, as I’m more excited through each passing second of what’s to come as I step outside the doorway this afternoon of the some of the most wonderful hosts in the world here in Tucson: Kathy, Brenda, Trevor, Ashley, Harriet and Delissa…