Day 12: Parker, the friendliest town

My parents sent me a 2nd resupply box to Parker containing pants to help deal with the sun. No amount of sunscreen was keeping my legs from turning red. I had all morning for town chores until my box arrived later in the afternoon. 

I started with laundry because it had been since Seligman (8 days!) since I’d washed my clothes. Then at the recommendation of the bartender from last night, I headed to Early Bird Cafe for breakfast. What a fantastic recommendation. The breakfast was fit for my monster appetite. 

I found a booth with an outlet to set up shop to charge my electronics. They allowed me to stay all morning until my box was delivered, and continued to bring me coffee and water. Some one even anonymously bought my breakfast! An older couple struck up conversation with me and as they walked out, the lady dropped me $20 and refused to take no for answer. The people of Parker are incredible! The folks at Early Bird gave me their business card and asked me to call when I arrived in my next town safely -- so sweet !

Parker is right on the Arizona/California border. Leaving town, I entered California where I’ll remain for the next ~1,700 miles! Cali started with another highway walk along Hwy62 until I reached the Colorado Aquaduct, which redirects water from the Colorado river to Los Angeles. I’ll be following this for the next 3 days until I enter Joshua Tree National Park. 

The Aquaduct

Overall, it was a wonderful day socializing and meeting outstanding people!

Miles: 23.6

Ramblings: 

If you get a moment, google “shopping cart” theory. The cliff notes version is essentially you can tell if some one is a good person or not based on if they return the shopping cart to the corral or leave it in the lot. An individual has no incentive to return the cart except to do the right thing.

After about 20 miles of highway/interstate walking in the last 2 days, I have a new theory: Road Walker Theory. I now believe you can tell a lot about a person how they drive past someone walking alongside the road, especially when the road has a small shoulder.

I’ve observed a few type of people:

1. ‘Stay the Course’ driver: On the road, this type of person doesn’t acknowledge your presence. They make no attempt to slow down, move into the other lane, or even straddle the middle lane. In life, I imagine this person to be self-absorbed or stuck in a routine. They ‘put in the time’ and move through life unaware of its gift. This is like 80% of drivers I passed today.

2. ‘Do their best’ driver: This type of driver acknowledges your presence by straddling the middle lane and giving me space. They don’t necessarily slow down or do much else, but I can at least walk comfortable knowing they won’t be on their phones or accidentally swerve and hit me. They do their best.

3. ‘Go out of their way’ driver: This type of driver takes aggressive action. They get completely in the other lane, slow down, or hell, even stop to ask if every thing is okay. They leave no grey area that they acknowledge your presence and care about the safety of others. In general, this is the type of person I want in my corner. If something bad happens, I have little doubt they’d be there to help out.

Observing the way I drive, I realize that it is possible to ‘swerve’ in and out of each of these categories. Some days, I am fantastically present and fall in the third category. Other days, I am in the first category where I don’t acknowledge others. Sometimes in the same day I fall in all three categories. However after all of the road miles and time to think, I desire to stay in that third category.

Which one will you be in today?

ps… this is a little insight into what I think about hiking all day lol