Day 38 Wilcox to Bowie – 25 miles….. but really 35

10/2/2014

Cold desert air feels like the inside of a refrigerator. Wasn’t I just complaining about the heat a few days back? Did I get accustomed to the heat or did the temperature really drop? Interestingly enough, I’ve always clocked faster running times in the cold.

Today I got a late start on the road but it wasn’t because of the cold. I had the chance to read to some kids for storytime at the Elsie Morgan Community Library. The library was very well kept and up to date. I had a cozy audience and they were very attentive. It surprised me because many times the younger kids have shorter attention spans. These kids were bright and inquisitive. It just further proves that literacy is passed down from parents or grandparents. I can’t emphasize enough the pivotal role of the parental figure in a child’s life.

I didn’t see a problem in starting my run after noon. I was only going to run 25 miles. I started at the beginning of Wilcox. It was a very cool cowboy type of town. Rex Allen an old, bigscreen cowboy was from the place. You might also recognize his voice in the old Disney animal movies. He has a street named after him, as well as a museum, and a statue. Many of my days in the desert I imagined what it must have been like to live in the times of the wild west. After today’s run I’m not sure if I would have survived back then.

I briskly trotted on my unpaved road while Crystal drove ahead of me. The air was fresh and clean, the sky blue, and my spirits were up. Even when we hit a no trespassing sign I continued to enjoy my surroundings. Crystal and I had agreed on a rendez vous point in the next town. It was a good thing too. There were plenty of places where she would not have been able to pass. Around mile 13 I passed an abandoned ranch as saw a few old vehicles which had been consumed by vegetation. The trail’s beauty remained undiminished. Medium sized climbs gave me a good workout while the cool air kept me sweat free. Somewhere maybe a mile later I passed an old watering hole. It must have been a place where cowboys would let their horses drink. A bit after that is where the first sign of trouble popped up. I had made the call to stay on Page Ranch Road only I hadn’t stayed on Page Ranch Road. I had missed a turn and was running on North Page Ranch Road. How did I know this you might wonder? I had a spotty guidance system that kept telling me I was in several locations. Luckily I could hear the faint sound of the freeway in the distance. Once I got a visual I figured I was ok.

After going back and forth trying to get a fix on my actual position, a rambling truck kicked up dust in the distance. The fact that I was on private property swam in my head. Would he be toting a gun? Lucky for me, the rancher was friendly and he told me I could take a right and follow a gas line all the way to town. Maybe it was lucky, maybe not. With each step the dirt road seemed to shrink in width and thorny plants began to scratch at my legs. At least the town was visible. Then suddenly….rattle. The snake sat in my way coiled and looking to strike at some animal. I navigated my way around the thing and decided to stop wasting time. I didn’t want to be stuck in the desert without sunlight. It would have been a good plan if the road didn’t get consumed by the same vegetation that ate the abandoned cars. The key was to keep calm. I couldn’t have been more than a couple miles away from the freeway. With the minutes passing like seconds I watched the shadows elongate before my eyes. More animals rustled around in my vicinity. Finally I hit a wash. It ran north to south so I figured if I followed it north I would hit the freeway. A herd of cattle decided to have a conference right at the end of the ditch. Right as I emerged the phone magically showed full reception. Crystal called and said she was waiting for me. My heart leapt out of my chest when I caught a glimpse of her image. I made my way through the brush and the cows and let all the adrenaline fade from my system.