AZT: Roadside Ditch to Flagstaff

The stats:

Currently, I’m sitting off the AZT urban trail by a mile or mile and a half, in the backyard of a trail-angel named Einstein. Who I might add is a friend of a friend.   Such a small world in the hiker community.   We had no idea who he was when we texted him. I emailed and texted quite a few Flagstaff angels to find a safe place for the bike and he was the first, yes.   

We woke up to a herd of elk in the large meadow in front of us this morning.    Once again, they took off when they saw me.   Me thinks they might get shot at a time or two.  

We also woke up with the feeling we were being watched.  And we were!  

It was a nice hiking day, with just enough clouds to keep the temp cool.   We saw a few people out hiking and mountain biking.   This town has an amazing trail system and our AZT urban trail was also very easy to follow.  Just to give you some idea of Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS).   Here’s a map.

The people we met were warm and friendly.   We also got smiles and waves from folks in cars.   We felt very accepted walking through town and are impressed with Flagstaff.   

Now, the wait for Hawkeye to return.  Then the big discussion.   To go on or not to go, that is the question.    We’ve both had some minor pains; my knee and his heel.   It hasn’t been much pain for either of us, but we aren’t sure yet, if we will go on to Utah or head home and come back next year.  

To be continued…

We are heading home.   

Next year we will return a few weeks later when the weather warms up.   The forecast for the south and north rim at the Grand Canyon (when we would have been there) is in the teens at night and 32 degrees for day.   No thank you.  We’d have to drain our camper before storage with those temps.    PLUS,  our minor ailments.   It’s hard to quit.   Feels harder, to us, than starting.  We usually just grit out what we have intended to do.   Not this time.   Our guts say head home, so we will.