Day 7: Chad for the Win

People with the name Chad get a bad rap.

Last night, my route dead ended at a no trespassing sign. I set up camp resolved to make a plan in the morning. Seeing no other options, I hopped the fence to head to the ranch on the other side. I spoke to a few ranch hands who gave me advice and water, and then Chad, the ranch manager, stopped me on the side of the road to ask why I was on his land. 

Accepting my apology, he asked where I was going and then helpfully mapped out directions in the dirt road for a shortcut through his land.  It would  “save 10 miles and a big climb”. 

Shout out to the Chad’s out there. 

This morning I saw about 20 mule deer milling around the ranch. The afternoon took me back in Prescott National Forest and it’s nice to be walking in the shade of large pine trees again. 

I stopped at one more ranch to secure water for the final 24 miles stretch into town. After spending the last 5 days in search of water, it was shocking to see this ranch had a pond out front. Water seems to be more available here. It was perhaps more shocking to see a basketball hoop too -- feels like I’m back in Indiana!

I pushed another 9 miles after the ranch to put me just 15 miles from town and to set up a good resupply day in Bagdad. It’s the first mail box I’ll receive! 

Several people stopped to ask if I needed anything and it was much appreciated. 

Also, killed my first mosquito of the trip tonight. 1 done, a couple hundred thousand to go. 

Miles: 31.9