Got into bed around 8pm last night and fell asleep quickly. I sleep great now. There were times in my life when that wasn’t the case, but it certainly isn’t an issue anymore.
Some neighbors appeared yesterday, probably because it’s Memorial Day weekend. One guy showed up in a Prius towing a side-by-side, rode the 4x4 trails for a couple hours, and left. Four backpackers hiking the Hayduke Trail set up nearby. They told us it’s the most difficult hiking route through the Grand Canyon and that they’re 600 miles in. They asked if we’d haul out three five-gallon cache buckets for them so they don’t have to drive back for them. Shannon agreed. One bucket was half full of backpacker food. Zero of it is keto-compatible except one Bubbly and, marginally, a bottle of water flavoring. As much as the backpacking world appeals to me, the food does not. Little packets of processed stuff.
Another neighbor came over to let us know he’d be shooting clay pigeons. His father’s ashes were in the pigeons. We’re in National Forest, but a few feet away in the direction he was shooting is National Park. Feels like that’s probably against some rules, but that’s what he did. There’s also a guy in a little red Toyota camped down a ways, and on our afternoon bike ride we came across a white truck with a sign in the windshield that said “In Hunting Stand.” We’re no longer the only ones out here. I prefer having it to ourselves, but I’m fairly certain these are all weekenders and things will quiet down after the holiday.
Shannon is planning a backpacking excursion. She leaves tomorrow morning, gone three nights, back Tuesday. We’re talking about leaving here Wednesday, mainly because my supplies are running low. About five pounds of ground beef left. I have enough to survive another week but it will increasingly become more of an exercise. Also her birthday is next Friday, so we’ll supply up in Page, AZ on Wednesday and get ourselves to a suitable birthday spot, probably in southern Colorado, by Friday.
I would stay here a month if I had the supplies. The hikers asked if they could come over and enjoy our view for a bit. They said we have the best view on the North Rim. Coming from people 600 miles into the Hayduke Trail, that felt like it meant something. The weather is temperate, no constant wind or extreme temps, unlimited forageable wood, a great firepit, a level site. Not much left to be desired except a nearby supply hub. We haven’t seen a single RV off the pavement out here.
Now that a rough schedule is taking shape I can pull the trigger on the pending Amazon orders to Page. A 30-foot extension cable for my portable solar panels, and three ingredients to make my own electrolyte flavoring so I don’t have to rely on Crystal Light. Crystal Light has aspartame, which is considered carcinogenic. My version will be sweetened with pure monk fruit extract powder, the best of the non-sugar sweeteners, and about 10 times cheaper. I just hope it tastes as good. I’ve been using the pink lemonade flavor. Mine will be regular lemonade. True Lemon is a healthier option but it doesn’t mask the pond scum nearly well enough.
Butter weather again today. High of 71. I try to imagine what could make this better and I can’t think of anything. More supplies.
Roads dispatches appear on layng.com/roads after a short delay.