After applying copious amounts of antibiotic ointment to my blister and packing some for the trail, I was ready to get hiking once again.
Vance’s knee still hurt, but he decided to come with me instead of spending another night in town.
I felt fantastic. We cruised down trail like never before, it was flat easy hiking with expansive views of cacti plains and distant mountains.
Today was the day we would pass underneath I-10, the highway that runs all the way from Florida to California. That meant we got to go through the famous snake tunnel.
We saw the first Saguaros today, and my speed slowed down significantly as I had to stop awe at nearly everyone we passed. The wildflowers were also in full bloom.
It was tough to find a minimum-impact place to camp that night, and we decided to set up in the dry sandy wash.
If I was sleeping in a wash, I figured I may as well be confident it wouldn’t rain and slept with the rain-fly off my tent. I was lucky enough to have two Western Screech Owls land nearby and start vocalizing. I could see their silhouettes against the bright night sky.