Day 60 (ODT 27)

Day 59 (ODT 27): 24 miles

I slept in, hoping the rain would pass by. It did, for the half hour I was packing up and getting going. Then it started to rain, and did nearly nonstop for the next 6 hours. If I didn’t hate getting wet, it would actually be comical by this point how much I’ve gotten rained on. My feet were wet for a lot of the day from the rain and the terrain being wet and the ruts in the primitive roads being laden with water.

But not enough water exactly. I took a little side trail to the Owyhee River to get water for the next 26 miles until the next water. It’s not too bad of a carry. Climbing up from the river on a XC section afterwards wasn’t too fun.

The primitive roads that I was walking in for a lot of the day had been wrecked by cows. Even though the walking should’ve been flat and easy, it killed my feet and ankles. There were no easy steps.

I had a couple really loud and annoying birds with long thin beaks following me for 30 minutes, screeching nonstop. I also got yelled at by a cattle dog while I was sitting down for a break. I heard it barking from about 40 yards away, but it was so small I could hardly see it. It barked the whole time I was sitting down, as I was resting in a very threatening manner.

I saw two star crossed lovers in the evening. There were 2 cows staring at each other on both sides of a cattle guard. They can look, but destiny has determined that they cannot be together. I also always love walking across cattle guards because I imagine the cows think I’m Jesus.

This trail is exhausting. I am exhausted.